§ Mr. Craigenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many forms his Department has in circulation relating to benefits or exemptions available to those on low incomes.
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§ Mr. Newton:People on low incomes can claim the full range of social security benefits. There are claim forms for all the benefits administered by the Department, and many of these are attached to explanatory leaflets.
However, there are eight main forms which deal with benefits or exemptions specifically available to those on low incomes. All are attached to explanatory leaflets. They are as follows:
Benefit/exemption Form attached to leaflet No. Family income supplement FIS 1 Exemptions from NHS dental charges D 11 Exemptions from NHS optical charges G 11 Exemptions from NHS prescription charges P 11 Help with fares to hospital H 11 Free milk and vitamins MV 11 Exemption from national insurance contributions for people with small earnings from self-employment N127A Supplementary benefit SB1 Other forms may be needed once a claim for benefit or exemption is being handled by the Department—for example, to get further information about a claim for supplementary benefit.
The Department is shortly to start a major forms review and will be looking particularly at claim forms for benefits. A main object of this review will be to make the forms as simple and easy to understand as possible.