§ 76. Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services on what grounds unsigned claims for benefit are accepted by the Supplementary Benefits Commission, when later, if such claims a resubmitted to an appeal tribunal, the absence of signature may be construed as indicating that no claim was made in the first place.
§ Mr. DeanRegulation 2 of the Supplementary Benefit (Claims and Payments) Regulations (Statutory Instrument 1966 No. 1067) requires that all claims to benefit must be made in writing. Where through ill health the claimant is unable to make a claim himself, a claim may be accepted from a person acting on his behalf. I am not aware of any case where the acceptance of an unsigned claim form was subsequently revoked on submission to an appeal tribunal. If the hon. Member has knowledge of a particular case perhaps he would send me details.