§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in cases where a woman believed to be cohabiting is allowed to receive supplementary benefit for a further four weeks and lodges an appeal against the withdrawal of benefit before the end of four weeks, payment of benefit will continue pending the hearing of her appeal.
§ Mr. DeanOne of the advantages of the new four weeks payment is to give time for an appeal against the finding of cohabitation, if made promptly, to be heard before benefit is due to cease. It is not, however, proposed to extend the period of payment if for any reason an appeal has not been heard after the four weeks in question.
§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if widowed mothers whose National Insurance benefit is withdrawn on the grounds that they are cohabiting will in future be informed of the possibility of obtaining supplementary benefit to meet their children's needs for four weeks.
§ Mr. DeanWhere supplementary benefit is being paid with the national insurance benefit, this possibility of entitlement is automatically considered when the widow's entitlement to supplementary benefit ceases. Where supplementary benefit is not being paid, arrangements have been made for the widow to be advised of possible entitlement for the children when the national insurance benefit is withdrawn.