§ Mr. SquireTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if there is a specific target for clearing claims for family credit for people who have moved into paid work.
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§ Mr. Peter LloydSpecial arrangements have been made with the Department of Employment's claimant adviser service for family credit claims made by families of people assisted into work by them to be dealt with through a streamlined procedure. The target is for 90 per cent. of these claims to be cleared within five working days. This target is being met and 95 per cent. are cleared within 10 working days. Other claimants resuming work after claiming income support are sent a specially marked family credit claim form so that, if necessary, their claims can be given priority. The target is to clear these claims, as other family credit claims, in an average of 18 working days. In November a clearance rate of just under 23 days was achieved.