§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what guidance is given to local Department of Health and Social Security officers in the issue of new Girocheques where the originals are reported lost.
§ Mr. OrmeWhere a question arises whether a person has in fact received benefits, the Department has, in line with its responsibility for the proper administration of the scheme, to establish the facts as far as possible. If a claimant reports that he has not received a Girocheque recorded as sent to him, or that it has been lost or stolen after receipt, he is normally told that replacement will not be considered until seven weeks from the date of issue. This is to give time for the Girocheque to be traced if it has in fact been cashed as it often has. In supplementary benefit cases, or in other cases if non-receipt has been reported, local offices have discretion to make an immediate replacement if delay would cause hardship. If after seven weeks the original Girocheque has not been cashed, replacement is made. If it is cashed within the seven weeks no replacement is considered until the circumstances of its encashment have been investigated. Cases where the original order has been cashed after replacement are of course also followed up.