§ Ms. Harmanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will be sending a leaflet about the new maternity payments to family income supplement claimants who have notified the Department that a child has been born; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PortilloNo. I refer the hon. Member to the answer which I have given today to her other question about maternity payments in which I have outlined the measures which we have taken to inform family income supplement recipients about social fund maternity payments.
§ Ms. Harmanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how he intends to inform people who claim family income supplement that they are now entitled to claim the new maternity payment.
§ Mr. PortilloThe new arrangements for making maternity payments under the social fund were introduced on 6 April 1987. A leaflet setting out the various social security benefits available to expectant and new mothers and a related poster are available for display in all DHSS local offices, main Post Offices and ante-natal clinics. The leaflet is also available through family practitioners. Copies of an integrated leaflet and application form used for claiming the social fund maternity payment are available in DHSS local offices and ante-natal clinics. Additionally both the family income supplement leaflet and the related letter which is sent to notify claimants of the amount of benefit awarded draw attention to the fact that help from the social fund may be available. Similar arrangements will be made in the leaflets relating to the new family credit scheme commencing in April 1988 and in the information sent to successful claimants.