§ Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (1) if he will make a statement on the mechanism by which the Benefits Agency issues guidance to its offices on working with the Immigration and Nationality Directorate to ensure that the issuing of national insurance numbers, NASS 35 documents and asylum decision letters are co-ordinated; [61958]
(2) if he will make a statement on the mechanism by which the Benefits Agency has informed its offices of the provision allowing access to documentation directly from NASS if an asylum seeker wishing to have access to mainstream benefits has not received his or her NASS 35 document through the post. [61959]
§ Mr. Nicholas BrownProcedural bulletins issued routinely to all staff provide guidance on the handling and processing of claims from successful asylum seekers. The transition for asylum seekers moving from National Asylum Support Service support to benefits is, like any claim to benefit, subject to the relevant evidence requirements being satisfied. In some cases this can lead to delays although every effort is made to keep that delay to a minimum.
A procedural bulletin was issued to all income support and jobseeker's allowance processing staff in December 2001, informing them of new procedures designed to minimise delays in assessing claims to benefit from successful asylum seekers. Where an asylum seeker has reported that they have not received their NASS 35 form, staff are instructed to send a fax to NASS requesting that another one is issued within 48 hours. The NASS 35 511W provides details of the level of support the person has received from the National Asylum Support Service and the date when the support ceased. This information is necessary so that full rate benefit can be paid. The new procedure was introduced in consultation with the National Asylum Support Service.