§ Mr. ÖpikTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what assessment she has made of the amount of money that will not be claimed as a result of the change in backdating benefits following a successful appeal; and if she will make a statement. [36088]
§ Mr. DenhamThe backdating proposals in Clause 72 of the Social Security Bill will not affect arrears of benefit following a successful appeal on a claim for that benefit. The change affects only the period before a claim is made or treated as made. A claim for benefit will have been made before decisions on that claim can be appealed.