§ Mr. Frank FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list the clearance target for each social security benefit which will be used in the calculation of the new compensation scheme announced on 4 May.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe target clearance times relevant to the revised arrangements announced on 4 May are as follows:
Benefit Clearance target1 Social Fund Crisis Loans 2— Social Fund Community Care Grants 20 days Income Support—Claims 13 days Sickness and Invalidity Benefit 30 days Child Benefit 30 days Family Credit 42 days Disability Living Allowance 55 days Disability Working Allowance (Claims from people starting work) 5 days Retirement Pension 60 days 1 Shown as working days. 2 On the day need arises. The clearance targets which will be used in the cases of those benefits which do not have secondary clearance times are being considered. Where the clearance target would mean a customer having to wait longer than the 12 month period which was applicable to the arrangements before 1 April 1993, a notional target of six months will be used.
§ Mr. Frank FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether the clearance target used to calculate compensation under the scheme announced on 4 May will be the target for the year the payment should have been made, the target for the year the payment was finally made or the target for some other year.
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§ Miss WiddecombeThe target clearance time used to calculate compensation which may be due under the revised arrangements announced on 4 May will be the clearance target relevant to the date payment of the arrears of benefit are made.
§ Mr. Frank FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will publish the full rules governing the award and calculation of compensation in the new compensation scheme for late payment of social security benefits announced on 4 May.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe criteria under which payment of compensation is considered when a payment of a new claim for a social security benefit is delayed are:
- (i) The delay must be because of official error;
- (ii) The arrears due must be for £50 or more; and
- (iii) The delay must be for at least six months plus the relevant target for clearing the bulk of claims—usually between 85 and 95 per cent.
§ Mr. Frank FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he wil publish a leaflet for the public setting out the rules governing the new compensation scheme for late payment of social security benefits announced on 4 May; and if he will include in it the clearance targets which are relevant for each benefit.
§ Miss WiddecombeMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's clearance targets, which relate to the revised arrangements, are published in the Benefits Agency business plan.
All district offices display details of national targets in their reception areas, and customers will be able to obtain details of the relevant clearance targets from the customer service manager at their local office.