HC Deb 27 October 1988 vol 139 cc333-4W
Mrs. Beckett

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the unit cost and estimated total annual cost of producing income support claim form B1.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

The unit cost of income support claim form B1 is 10.29p and the estimated total annual cost is £578,182.

However, form B1 is always issued together with the housing benefit claim form NHB1 and the income support allowances and premiums sheet IS100. This increases the unit cost of the package to 12.49p. and the estimated annual cost to £767,700.

Mrs. Beckett

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the percentage rate of identified errors in income support assessments; and what steps he is taking to improve the accuracy of assessments.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

The income support error rate for the month ending 30 September 1988 was 9.4 per cent., a significant improvement on the error rate for the old supplementary benefit scheme.

(Source: Local Office monthly management information statistical returns based on the number of payments test-checked and the number of errors found in excess of 50p.)

The following steps are taken to improve further the accuracy of income support assessments:

Test checking and monitoring a random sample of all payments for accuracy. These results are used for local training of staff.

Adjudication and procedural instructions are constantly reviewed and expanded to provide staff with clearer and more precise guidance in areas of difficulty.

The office of the chief adjudication officer reports annually on the standards of adjudication achieved and makes recommendations for improvements.