§ Mr. Steenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) why Edward Price, a teacher with the Liverpool Education Committee, has received no sickness benefit despite the fact that he is in his third week of sickness;
(2) why it was necessary to send a telegram from the local DHSS office in Liverpool to Newcastle to discover details of Mr. Price's contributions.
§ Mr. MeacherI regret any inconvenience caused to Mr. Price by a delay 261W which occurred in providing the local office with information about his contribution record, making it necessary for the office to send three inquiries, including the telegram to which the hon. Member refers. In the result, although Mr. Price's first medical certificate was received by the local office on 6th February, the first payment was not made until 19th February.
§ Mr. Steenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how soon money is dispatched to those who are sick, after they have received a certificate to say they are ill;
(2) what is the average length of time that people have to wait, when they are ill, before being paid their sickness benefits;
(3) if she will make a statement with regard to the delays in paying sickness benefit.
§ Mr. MeacherThe lapse of time between the onset of incapacity and the receipt of the first payment of sickness benefit depends on a number of factors, in particular on when the first certificate is received by the local office, whether the local office need to make enquiries about the claimant's contribution record, and on the claimant's benefit "pay day". Normally a first payment is sent to a claimant within at most two weeks of the onset of his incapacity. Thereafter, if medical certificates continue, payment is made on the claimant's weekly pay day. Local offices are well aware of the need to handle claims as expeditiously as possible. The hon. Gentleman will be aware that there are in any case generally three "waiting days" to be served at the beginning of a spell of incapacity.