§ Mr. BattleTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what guidance is given to his Department's officers to decide an appropriate level of remuneration for part-time work undertaken by those claiming income support.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe chief adjudication officer is responsible for providing guidance to the Department's adjudication officers, who decide all questions relating to entitlement to income support. Normally, a claimant's gross part-time earnings, less any appropriate deductions, are used when calculating how much benefit can be paid. In a small number of cases, however, earnings are assumed where a person receives no earnings for the work done, or less earnings than is paid for comparable work in the locality. But this rule does not apply to charitable or voluntary work, or where there is evidence that the employer cannot afford to pay higher wages. Adjudication officers are advised, therefore, to consider the nature of the employment, and to compare the rate of pay with that for similar work in the area and any evidence provided by the job centre. The detailed guidance is contained in the adjudication officer's guide, paragraphs 29,251 to 29,400, a copy of which is in the Library.