§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what are the administrative arrangements within the Benefits Agency for the payment of benefits to civil servants. [16988]
§ Mr. Keith BradleyThe administration of Social Security benefits is a matter for Peter Mathison, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. He will write to my hon. Friend.
Letter from Peter Mathison to Mr. David Hinchliffe, dated 20 November 1997:
The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking what are the administrative arrangements within the Benefits Agency for the payment of benefits to civil servants.No special arrangements are made for the payment of benefits to civil servants. However, individual benefit areas do try to ensure that claims from civil servants are treated sensitively. A member of staff may highlight that they are a civil servant when making a claim for benefit, particularly if they are employed locally. Claims which are identified in this way are dealt with by nominated officers within each particular benefit unit and can only be accessed by authorised members of staff.Some benefits, for example Child Benefit, do not require details of a customer's employment. It is unlikely that claims to these benefits will be identified as being from a civil service employee, unless the member of staff actually works in the area responsible for their claim.I hope you find this reply useful.