§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many of those eligible he estimates fail to claim family income supplement; and what proposals he has to increase take-up of this benefit.
§ Mrs. ChalkerThe latest available information is in the explanatory note which the Department produced on 6 July 1981. Copies of this note, which was headed "The take-up of family income supplement: note on the estimated derived from the Family Finances Survey", were deposited in the Library of the House. I am, however, sending the hon. Member a further copy.
The following measures are being taken to stimulate the take-up of family income supplement (FIS):
A leaflet/claim form is issued:
each time maternity grant is awarded or disallowed;
to all supplementary benefit recipients who are about to resume full-time work. Special follow-up arrangements apply to lone parents and cases which have been dealt with by the unemployment review officer or reestablishment centre officer;
Supplies of the leaflet/claim form are held by:
post offices for continuous display and issue on a help-yourself basis;
citizens advice bureaux;
DHSS local offices;
Jobcentres;
London Council for Social Service.
FIS is mentioned in many other leaflets, including the main ones on child benefit, one-parent benefit, national insurance benefits and those giving guidance to groups such as widows and handicapped people. Two new leaflets—for low paid workers and lone parents—will feature FIS prominently. It is also mentioned in the notes on the yellow pages at the back of child benefit order books and in the "Supplementary Benefits Handbook".
A poster is held for continuous display by post offices, DHSS local offices, citizens advice bureaux and Jobcentres and by some employers. We are shortly writing to doctors and health centres to ask them to display a poster.
Each year a major press and TV campaign, which lasts for two to three weeks, is mounted to coincide with the uprating. In 1981, this will cost £476,000—an increase of £140,000 over 1980. Some of the increase is due to inflation. There is, however, a considerable increase in real terms. This will be used for additional television advertising, including the London area, which has not been possible previously.
FIS is mentioned in the letter about one-parent benefit which is to be sent early next year to about 300,000 parents shown as the sole payees of child benefit.
From March 1982, all child benefit order books will contain a special page advertising FIS on one side and one-parent benefit on the other. Until then, this page will be issued separately with all new awards of child benefit.
An article on the take-up of FIS and one-parent benefit appears in the first issue of "Social Security Notes". Copies were bound in the 27 October edition of "Social Work Today".