§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the reasons for the adoption by benefit offices in the Isle of Wight and Somerset of differing policies in relation to the payment of income support to residents transferred from local authority care to independent homes.
§ Miss WiddecombeEligibility for income support is defined by regulations and is available in respect of fees, up to certain limits, to residents of registered residential care homes and in certain other types of homes. Adjudication officers receive guidance on their interpretation of the regulations by the chief adjudication officer in the adjudication officers' guide, a copy of which is available in the Library. It is for individual adjudication officers to make decisions in any given case.