§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how his Department checks the authenticity of dependants of immigrants for whom supplementary benefits and other welfare payments are made when the dependants concerned reside outside the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Orme, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 23rd March 1978; Vol. 946, c. 717–8], gave the following information:
Supplementary benefit is not Paid in respect of dependants residing outside the United Kingdom. Child benefit and dependency increases of other social 104W security cash benefits are payable only for dependants residing in the United Kingdom, in the EEC—to beneficiaries who are nationals of member States—or in countries with which a bilateral reciprocal agreement has been made covering such payments. Under the EEC Social Security Regulations, and in the relevant bilateral agreements, administrative procedures are laid down under which local inquiries can be carried out by the social security authorities of the country in which the dependant resides. The evidence required to support a claim in respect of a dependant in these circumstances varies, as in this country, according to the type of benefit claimed. Corroborative evidence of both relationship and dependency may therefore be required of the claimant.