§ Mr. WinnickTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when Miss H. McNulty (DSS ref: PSC(AE)/107) can reapply for a Social Fund payment for a mobility scooter (Benefits Agency ref: PQ681/2/3/4 and 696/7 98/99). [78784]
§ Angela EagleThe administration of the Social Fund is a matter for Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. David Winnick, dated 26 March 1999:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking when Miss H McNulty can re-apply for a Social Fund payment for a mobility scooter.Miss McNulty can re-apply for a payment at any time. The effect of the Secretary of State's Social Fund Direction 7 in its current form, however, means that if her circumstances remain unchanged from the earlier application, a Social Fund Officer cannot make an award for an item that has already been refused within 26 weeks of the date of the earlier application.Changes to Social Fund Directions from 5 April 1999 mean that there will be no time-limits placed on repeat applications for Budgeting Loans. However the restrictions will continue to apply to Community Care Grants and Crisis Loans.The first date Miss McNulty can apply for a Community Care Grant or Crisis Loan payment without being affected by Direction 7 is therefore 29 June 1999.I hope this is helpful.