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Dept for Work and Pensions

Answer

Mrs. Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 3 June 2003, ref 115520, what plans he has to institute mechanisms for the collection of information on (a) the numbers of claimants delayed from claiming benefits in the previous 12 months because the nature of their incapacity prevented them from claiming and (b) how long that delay was. [118237] Mr. Browne: There is a three-month time limit for claiming incapacity benefit, and a rule whereby a claim for income support can be backdated for up to three months where the person making the claim is ill or disabled (and it has not been reasonably practicable to obtain help in making the claim earlier). These rules make the system relatively simple to operate and for people to understand, while also emphasising the importance of people making their claims promptly. We have no plans to extend benefit claim forms in order to gather information about those for whom there has been a delay in making a claim. However, we are in the process of amending the claim forms for incapacity benefits (SC1, SSP1 and IB (Y)) to include more information about the time limits for claiming.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

118237; 407 c626W;407 c628W

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Disability Applications Benefits rules Administrative delays Income support Incapacity benefit Social security benefits

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk