§ Mr. CorbettTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what period is laid down in his Department's guidelines for dealing with a claimant who has been suspended from unemployment benefit pending investigations and the claimant being told the result of investigations.
§ Mr. LeeClaimants may be suspended from unemployment benefit for a variety of reasons. In most cases, doubtful claims would be submitted for a decision to the adjudication officer. Social security legislation provides that once a claim has been submitted to an adjudication 319W officer, as far as practicable it should be disposed of within 14 days. The adjudication officer is empowered, however, to make whatever inquiries are necessary before making a decision.
The period of time between a claimant being suspended from unemployment benefit and being notified of the result of investigations will therefore vary from one case to another, and will depend, among other things, on the complexity of the case.
§ Mr. CorbettTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what period is laid down in his Department's guidelines for dealing with a claimant who reports that a payment of unemployment benefit is lost or stolen and the claimant being told the result of investigations.
§ Mr. LeeMy Department does not lay down any specific guidelines. The period of time between a claimant reporting a loss and being notified of the result of an investigation will vary from one case to another and will depend, among other things, on the complexity of the case under question.