SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS: TAKE-UP (Hansard, 25 November 1981)

§ Lord Elton

I am glad to assure the noble Lord that the take-up of most of the very wide range of social security benefits for which the Department of Health and Social Security has responsibility is satisfactory. In so far as the take-up of any of the major contributory benefits, or child benefit, falls short of 100 per cent., it is likely that this is due more to deliberate choice than to ignorance. The significant problems of unsatisfactory846WA population projections. Revised estimates of the data in Tables 4.1 and 4.2 of the Interim Report are set out in the tables below.

3. The revised school population projections reach their nadir in the late 1980's, when they are about 6 per cent. above those shown in the Chilver Interim Report. Using the criteria in the Chilver Interim Report on pupil/teacher ratios the number of teaching posts would also be assumed to rise by about 6 per cent. on the levels set out in the report.

take-up lie mainly with supplementary benefit, one parent benefit, family income supplement and, to a lesser extent, with attendance allowance and mobility allowance.

The take-up of supplementary benefit runs at about three-quarters in terms of numbers of actual and potential claimants but at about five-sixths in terms of benefit. This reflects the fact that, while a large sum in total may be unclaimed (estimated at over £300 million), many of the individual amounts are small. Nevertheless, the Government regard the encouragement of take-up as important if need is to be adequately met. A number of measures have been in force for some time: posters are displayed at the department's local offices, unemployment benefit offices, post offices, et cetera; all retirement pensioners and widows are invited to claim, and retirement pension order books contain a claim form; unemployed claimants are given a leaflet drawing their attention to supplementary benefit; and leaflets dealing with other benefits also refer to it and, when any 847WA of these benefits is disallowed or reduced, claimants are advised that they may be eligible.

More recently, the reforms of the supplementary benefit scheme introduced in 1980 have made a contribution, both by the emphasis they place on legally defined entitlement and by the following specific measures: the issue of a written notice to all claimants showing how their benefit is worked out; a programme of improvement and simplification of leaflets; and the issue of the revised Supplementary Benefits Handbook (to be revised again early next year) and the forthcoming publication of the S Manual.

The take-up of one parent benefit has shown a modest improvement. About two-thirds of the lone parents who stand to gain by claiming the benefit are now doing so, compared with about three-fifths previously. The level of take-up is, however, still unsatisfactory and additional measures have been taken or are contemplated. For example, the maternity benefit claim form can now be used to indicate whether there is a wish to claim one parent benefit; lone parents who cease to be entitled to supplementary benefit are given a one parent benefit claim form and advised to claim; and the Child Benefit Centre at Washington sends a letter drawing attention to one parent benefit whenever a person who appears to be a lone parent claims child benefit. Similarly, local authority social workers, health service personnel and voluntary organisations have been asked to bring the availability of the benefit to the attention of lone parents with whom they have contact.

Starting this month, a note about one parent benefit will be sent to all new recipients of child benefit. In March 1982, the note will be replaced by a new page in the child benefit order book. This will advertise, pictorially, one parent benefit on one side and family income supplement on the other. Over the ten weeks beginning on 18th January 1982, a letter about one parent benefit will be sent to some 300,000 people who have a child benefit order book in one name only but are not claiming one parent benefit. Family income supplement (FIS) will also be mentioned in this letter.

The latest information about the take-up of FIS has been derived from the Family Finances Survey. This was conducted between October 1978 and September 1979. It showed that, at that time, just over half of those families who were thought to be eligible were 848WA taking up FIS. Since last year's uprating, the average weekly intake of claims has increased by almost one-third. It is hoped that this indicates some improvement in the level of take-up.

The department already does a great deal to stimulate take-up of FIS, such as handing out leaflets, displaying posters, and issuing claim forms, e.g. to recipients of supplementary benefit who are about to resume work. Two new leaflets—for low paid workers and lone parents—will feature FIS and one parent benefit prominently. FIS is also the subject of a major press and television campaign every year, coinciding with the uprating. The department is stepping up the campaign this year; it 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 in earlier years.

There is no means of measuring precisely the national shortfall in claims for attendance allowance or mobility allowance but local studies have suggested that some disabled people have failed to appreciate that they may be entitled to them. I am glad to say that there has been some progress as a result of the International Year of Disabled People and the numbers claiming these allowances are increasing steadily.

These modest advances in the levels of take-up of the benefits on which there are significant problems are encouraging. There is still, however, a long way to go and the department will continue its efforts to improve on the traditional methods of publicity, as well as to develop new methods. Take-up is also high on the priority list of the Social Security Advisory Committee, which has been taking a particular interest in information and advice arrangements. The Government welcomes this and the contribution which local authorities, voluntary organisations and welfare rights workers make to the promotion of take-up; particular encouragement is given to the development of well-targeted take-up campaigns, provided these are devised in close consultation with local social security offices and so as to avoid raising the expectations of claimants fruitlessly.

House adjourned at twenty-nine minutes before nine o'clock.