§ Mr. RookerTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will bring forward changes to the rules by which pensioners cannot obtain arrears of payments of more than 12 months even though they can show good cause why payment orders had not been cashed.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardRegulation 7 of the Social Security (Medical Evidence, Claims and Payments) Amendment Regulations 1989, which came into force on 9 October 1989, introduced a relaxation of the absolute 12-month time limit for the encashment of an instrument of payment of benefit. The amendment provides that the 12-month period can be extended by the independent statutory authorities where a continuous period of good cause is established for the non-encashment of the instrument of payment.