§ Mr. BurstowTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what criteria will be placed on deciding eligibility to a home visit from the Pension Service; and which benefit forms the visiting officers will be trained to help pensioners with. [86884]
§ Mr. McCartney[holding answer 12 December 2002]: Where a pensioner requires a home visit from The Pension Service we expect to be able to provide one. Pensioners will have that option. There is as such no set criteria for deciding eligibility to a home visit although we expect the vast majority of queries will be dealt with swiftly and effectively without the need for a home visit. Indeed a simple call to a pension centre is likely to be the most effective and satisfactory way of dealing with customers' inquiries without the delay of appointments.
Our local service staff will be trained on pensioner entitlements including how to help our customers fill out application forms. This training will include detailed completion of claim forms for Minimum Income Guarantee, Retirement Pension, Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Invalid Care allowance and Pension Credit. In addition staff will be trained to signpost customers with possible entitlement to Industrial Injuries, Constant Attendance Allowance, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit, Social Fund, Bereavement Benefit and general NHS information.