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Dept of Social Security

Answer

Mr. Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when action will be taken to ensure that all pensioners entitled to income support receive it; and what administrative obstacles exist to backdating the resulting awards of benefit to (a) April 1999 and (b) the date when eligibility commenced. [113128] Mr. Bayley: An announcement of our plans to encourage pensioners to take-up their entitlement to the Minimum Income Guarantee will be made shortly. There are no administrative obstacles to backdating awards of benefit to April 1999. However, the prescribed time limit for claiming Income Support would prevent any claim made today being backdated to that date. That time limit, even with an extension for special circumstances, could result in payment for no more than three months prior to the date of claim. Anyone who claims Income Support can be considered for entitlement from the date of his or her claim. Generally this will be the first date that they contact the department to let the Secretary of State know of their intention to claim, provided that they then complete the appropriate claim form and provide the necessary evidence within one month of that first contact. If the customer is in receipt of Retirement Pension, Income Support will be paid on the same day as that Retirement Pension. In such circumstances entitlement to Income Support will begin on the first such payday, which may be later than the date of claim.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

113128; 345 c514-5W

Session

1999-00

Subjects

Arrears Income support Pensioners Means-tested benefits Take-up