§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the estimated cost is of the national telephone claims service for pensioners which is planned to be introduced in October; what the continuing yearly cost to his Department of this service will be; and if he will make a statement. [125378]
§ Mr. RookerIt is estimated that it will cost around £1 million to introduce the National Retirement Pension Tele-Claims Service from October 2000. The majority of this cost is associated with an upgrade of infrastructure that will provide a platform for further pensions modernisation in the future.
Introducing this service will:
Provide active assistance to customers at the point of claim by allowing them to speak to a member of staff who will complete an electronic claim form on their behalf;Provide a simplified claim form tailored to customers individual requirements;Reduce the need to ask customers for supporting documentary evidence by making use of data held.The ongoing running cost to the Department is expected to be around £0.5 million per annum.