Benefits (Hansard, 30 June 1988)

§ Mr. Corbett
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what period is laid down in his Department's348W guidelines for dealing with a claimant who has been suspended from income support pending investigations, and the claimant being told the result of investigations.

§ Mr. Portillo
Payment of income support may be suspended, wholly or in part, for a variety of reasons. A period of suspension will not normally exceed one calendar month, although it may be extended in individual cases if questions are unresolved.
Full guidance on the procedures relating to the suspension of income support is contained in part 1.11 of the income support manual, a copy of which is in the Library.

§ Mr. Corbett
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what period is laid down in his Department's guidelines for dealing with a claimant who reports that a payment of income support is lost or stolen and the claimant being told the result of investigations;
(2) what period is laid down in his Department's guidelines for dealing with a claimant who reports that a payment of family credit is lost or stolen and the claimant being told the result of investigations;
(3) what period is laid down in his Department's guidelines for dealing with a claimant who reports that a payment of child benefit is lost or stolen and the claimant being told the result of investigations;
(4) what period is laid down in his Department's guidelines for dealing with a claimant who reports that a payment of invalidity benefit is lost or stolen and the claimant being told the result of investigations;
(5) what period is laid down in his Department's guidelines for dealing with a claimant who reports that a payment of attendance allowance is lost or stolen and the claimant being told the result of investigations.

§ Mr. Portillo
As I said in my reply to the hon. Member on 24 June 1988, at column738, the administrative procedures followed when a claimant reports a loss of benefit vary not only according to the benefit concerned but also according to the method of payment and the circumstances of the loss. If the hon. Member has a particular case in mind perhaps he would write to me about it.