§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action will be taken by his Department to inform recipients of topping-up supplementary benefit under the new housing benefit scheme of their entitlement to free prescriptions and other "passport" benefits; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RossiThe administration of housing benefit supplement (as "topping-up" will be known) will be largely handled by local authorities, subject to the authorisation of awards by supplementary benefit officers. We propose that successful claimants will be informed of their entitlement to the supplement by means of a standard letter from their local authority. This will draw attention to the claimant's rights to free prescriptions and other "passport" benefits.
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action will be taken by his Department to ensure that disabled people and others who had been receiving the ordinary rate of supplementary benefit and are floated off by the housing benefit scheme will be returned to the long-term rate of supplementary benefit after 12 months in total on supplementary benefit and housing benefit and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RossiThe local authority will be asked to confirm that housing benefit is in payment on the date the claimant would have qualified for the long-term rate of supplementary benefit. If it is, he will be invited to claim supplementary benefit from that date.