§ Ms LynneTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 27 June,Official
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Income Support hardship decisions 1994–95 Quarter 1994 Region1 Awarded Actively seeking2 Refused Awarded Availability3 Refused April—June SE 100 100 400 600 W and CE 100 200 200 100 S and NE — 200 100 100 Total4 300 500 700 900 Report, columns 584–85, following the introduction of changes to the rules on income support help with mortgage interest payments, what consideration will be given to unemployed people now receiving income support help with mortgage interest payments who refuse to accept temporary or seasonal employment contracts that may extend to over 12 weeks in duration but which may return them to unemployment after 1 October 1995. [32113]
§ Mr. Roger EvansA person refusing temporary or seasonal employment without good cause will be disqualified for receipt of unemployment benefit for a period of up to 26 weeks, but not extending beyond the period for which the employment in question would have been available. As long as the job refused remains open to the claimant, there is normally no entitlement to income support, except under the hardship provisions. If, however, the job is no longer open to the claimant any entitlement to income support will be subject to a reduction in the personal allowance for the same period. If income support is paid under either of these alternative routes, any help with mortgage interest payments is unaffected. Decisions on benefit are taken by independent adjudication officers, who are supported by advice contained in the adjudication officer's guide, a copy of which is in the Library. There is no intention to amend the legislation on good cause for refusing employment as a result of the change to the income support rules on mortgage interest payments.