HC Deb 25 November 1994 vol 250 cc423-4W
Ms Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many claimants have been prevented from receiving benefits as a result of the habitual residence test in the parliamentary constituency of Lewisham, Deptford for each month since its inception; of those refused how many went on to appeal; and how many won their appeals.

Mr. Roger Evans

The administration of income support is a matter for Mr. Michael Bichard, chief executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to the hon. Member with such information about income support as is available. Information about housing benefit arid council tax benefit is collected annually from local authorities and is not yet available.

Letter from Mr. Michael Bichard to Ms Joan Ruddock dated 24 November 1994: The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking for details of the application of the Habitual Residency Test in Lewisham, Deptford since its inception in August 1994. The full range of information requested for Income Support (IS) is not routinely collected in the format requested. This is because Benefits Agency boundaries do not correspond with those of Parliamentary constituencies. However, I have placed at Annex A information which has been obtained from the Lewisham District Office which comprises the offices of Lewisham, Brixton, Greenwich, Hither Green and the Oval and handles IS claims from customers resident in the London postcode areas SE6, SE10, SE12, SE23, SE8, SE4, SE14 and part of SE13. Since 1 August 1994, 34 appeals have been received by the Lewisham District Office following the disallowance of IS as a result of the application of the Habitual Residence Test. To date none of these appeals have been heard by the Social Security Appeals Tribunal. Information on Housing and Council Tax Benefits is not yet available and is collected by the Department of Social Security from local authorities annually. In the meantime you may wish to contact the London Borough of Lewisham direct. I hope you find this reply helpful.