§ Mr. SteenTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) what estimate has been made of the savings to public funds from the retirement pension payday regulations contained in section 5 of the Social Security Act 1982; [2310]
(2) if he will review the retirement pension payday regulations contained in section 5 of the Social Security Act 1982. [2311]
§ Mr. McCartneyThe current regulations provide for the payment of retirement pension in whole weeks.
If payment were made for part-weeks, and the recovery of overpaid benefit at the end of the claim was abandoned, we estimate the costs would be up to £20 million.
There are no plans to change the present self-balancing arrangements.