§ Mr. LeighTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what plans he has to align the rules on the backdating of benefits as provided for by the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987, and to clarify the responsibilities of claimants in providing evidence to support their claims. [20613]
§ Mr. Roger EvansI will tomorrow lay before Parliament the Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) (No. 2) Regulations 1997. The regulations will align, as far as possible, the rules on the backdating of benefit and will clarify claimants' responsibilities by requiring them to provide basic information to support their claim.
The new rules on backdating will introduce two simple rules for most benefits, allowing up to three months' backdating of late claims, and up to one month's backdating of reviews following a change in a claimant's circumstances. The new rules will apply to most benefits from 7 April 1997, but will not apply to retirement pension until 4 August 1997. Aligning the backdating rules will reduce the complexity of the social security scheme and so increase administrative efficiency. Subject to changes in how promptly people claim or ask for reviews, we estimate that the new rules will affect around 450,000 claimants and that net benefit savings of £119 million in 1997–98, £126 million in 1998–99 and £130 million in 1999–2000 will arise. There will be an initial administrative cost of £1.8 million in 1997–98, £1.1 million in 1998–99 and £0.4 million in 1999–2000 in introducing the changes.
The regulations will also require claims to income support and jobseeker's allowance from 6 October 1997 to be made on a properly completed claim form, with supporting documents as required on the form. The date of claim for benefit will be the date the claimant first contacts the Benefits Agency or the Employment Service, as appropriate, for the purpose of claiming, provided a properly completed claim is received within one month of that first date, or at or before an interview where this is required for jobseeker's allowance.
We have consulted the Social Security Advisory Committee on these proposals and copies of the statement together with its report will be placed in the Library.