§ Mr. WallaceTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what steps are taken to ensure that sick note reminder forms BF6OB are sent to claimants prior to the expiry date of the existing sick note.
§ Mr. ScottThe administration of sickness and invalidity benefit are matters for Mr. Michael Bichard the chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information as is available and a copy will be placed in the Library.
Letter from Mr. M. Bichard to Mr. Jim Wallace, dated 27 July 1993:
As Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency it is my responsibility to answer questions about relevant operational matters. I am therefore replying to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Social Security asking what steps are taken to ensure that sick note reminder forms BF6OB are sent to customers prior to the expiry date of the existing sick note.Guidance to Benefit Agency staff is that form BF6OB should be issued if the current medical statement expires before the order book runs out. In both Lerwick and Kirkwall Benefit Offices, which deal with customers in your constituency, form BF6OB would be issued to a customer at the same time as the renewal order book where the medical statement expires during the currency of that order book.The computerisation of incapacity benefits is still developing. The latest improvement to the system, introduced on a rolling programme to District Offices from May 1993 to January 1994, will automatically issue form BF6OB whenever an order book is issued that extends beyond the date of the current medical statement.I hope you find this reply helpful. A copy will appear in the Official Report and a copy will be placed in the Library.