§ Mr. Duncan SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether sanctions will be imposed on lone parents if, under the proposed single gateway to benefit, they agree to have an interview in order to qualify for benefit, but then fail to attend that interview; and what form those sanctions will take. [61693]
§ Angela EagleAs part of the process for claiming Social Security benefits, people of working age will be required to attend a Single Gateway interview. A person who does not attend the interview will not have completed the claim process, and benefit will not be payable. For certain categories of people the requirement to attend an interview will be deferred, and benefit will be awarded in the normal way.