Work and Pensions written question – answered at on 16 March 2006.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions where (a) claimants and (b) recipients of (i) Child Benefit, (ii) Child Support, (iii) Severe disablement allowance, (iv) Industrial injuries benefit, (v) Income Support, (vi) Jobseeker's Allowance, (vii) Job Grant, (viii) Earnings top up (ix) Statutory sick pay, (x) Statutory Maternity Pay, (xi) Maternity allowance, (xii) Incapacity elements, (xiii) child elements in Income Support, (xiv) state pensions, (xv) non-contributory state pension, (xvi) Christmas Bonus, (xvii) pension credit, (xviii) TV licences for over 75s, (xix) widow's benefit, (xx) War Pensions, (xxi) Winter fuel payments, (xxii) bonuses and payments from the Social Fund, (xxiii) Crisis Loans, (xxiv) funeral payments, (xxv) Attendance Allowance, (xxvi) Disability Living Allowance, (xxvii) Disability Working Allowance, (xxviii) Carer's Allowance, (xxix) Invalid Care Allowance, (xxx) Vaccine Damage Payments, (xxxi) Motability specialised vehicles, (xxxii) council tax benefit, (xxxiii) Housing Benefit and discretionary housing payments, (xxxiv) Independent Living Funds, (xxxv) New Deal allowances and credits, (xxxvi) over 65s payment, (xxxvii) over 70s payment, (xxxviii) Guardian's allowance and (xxxix) Child's Special Allowance who live in County Durham may go to receive face-to-face advice from departmental staff about their entitlements and circumstances.
holding answer
Jobcentre Plus offices and The Pension Service Local Service Information Points in County Durham will provide personal advice on those benefits listed that are administered by DWP.Jobcentre Plus is in the process of transforming the way in which it delivers its services to customers. In County Durham Jobcentre Plus services are now delivered from a network of ten newly equipped Jobcentre Plus offices in Bishop Auckland, Chester le Street, Consett, Crook, Durham, Newton Aycliffe, Peterlee, Spennymoor, Stanley and Seaham. All these offices provide a face-to-face service and will offer appropriate advice about benefit entitlements.
In addition to the personal service provided through Jobcentre Plus offices improvements to be introduced in 2006 will allow customers to access services through the telephone and through the Internet.
The Pension Service provides assistance to those customers who are unable to conduct their business over the telephone and require face-to-face contact. Home visits are carried out through 'Local Service' which is the visiting arm of the Pension Service. Customers can also make appointments to visit one of the regular sessions held by Local Service, referred to as 'Information Points', in places that they are familiar with, such as Age concern and CAB outlets, local libraries and community centres, local hospitals and residential homes. In County Durham there are Information Points in Bishop Auckland and Chester-le-Street.
The following benefits listed are not administered by DWP but signposting advice is available from Jobcentre Plus and The Pension Service:
Child Benefit, Child Support, TV licences for over 75s, Motability Specialised vehicles, Independent Living Funds, Guardian's Allowance.
Earnings Top Up is no longer available, and income related benefits whilst in employment are now covered by Tax Credits.
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