§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the latest number of men aged 60 years and over who were unemployed and drawing the short-term rate of supplementary benefit who have deregistered at jobcentres and opted for the long-term rate of supplementary benefit.
§ Mrs. ChalkerI refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Grimsby (Mr. Mitchell) on 29 January 1982—[Vol. 16, c.449–50.]
§ Mr. Rookerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why no information is available at the unemployment benefit offices at Beacon Hill and Sutton Coldfield about the scheme whereby unemployed men aged over 60 years on supplementary benefit for 12 months may deregister at a jobcentre and obtain the long-term rate of supplementary benefit.
§ Mrs. ChalkerInformation about the scheme should be obtainable on request from all unemployment benefit offices. Cases are automatically identified by social security offices and shortly before a claimant aged 60 or more has completed a year on supplementary benefit, he is given the opportunity to become eligible for the longterm rate of supplementary benefit by opting no longer to register for work. Social security and unemployment benefit offices stand ready to offer the option to those claimants who qualify, and have enough information to be able to answer inquiries. Information about the scheme will be contained in leaflet SB9 when it is next reprinted. Meantime, it is being made available in a typewritten form.
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