- Does the Social Security Agency (SSA) have its own criteria for Targeting Social Need (TSN)?
- The benefits themselves target social need. We also need to concentrate on dealing with "excluded groups" - for example, the disabled and racial minorities - and try to improve communication lines with them.
- You mentioned private sector involvement in the delivery of benefits: to what extent is it involved? How much money is involved? You mentioned pilot studies that the Agency has been carrying out: are any results available?
- A contract will be drawn up in the next few weeks with a private consortium to provide updated computer systems for the delivery of three related benefits, Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Attendance Allowance and Invalid Care Allowance. In terms of staff actually processing the claims, there is no private sector involvement. It is too early to say how much money will be involved, and negotiations are at a delicate stage. However, we expect some staff savings and will bring back figures to the Committee when they become available.
The pilot schemes have finished and Deloitte Touche has carried out evaluations. We will forward their findings to the Committee.
- You said that new computers would help to speed up claims assessment, but this was not the case with Child Benefit, which was plagued with problems: comment? There are also major delays in DLA claims assessments. Although there is a parity principle between NI and GB in relation to benefits, this not seem to extend to SSA employees, whose pay has been cited as less than that of their Benefits Agency counterparts: comment? Why were the "back offices" sited in Belfast and Derry? In relation to TSN, a substantial amount of benefit is not claimed each year: is there therefore a need for a benefit uptake programme?
- We accept that computers can have glitches and are not the answer to all the problems. The delays with Child Benefit were unacceptable and we intend to do better. DLA is a complex benefit but we intend to re-engineer the form and aim to substantially lower the average process time to six weeks.
In terms of the pay rates question, the comparison as suggested cannot be made. There are different pay scales between NI and GB and, indeed, different grade structures. However, there are no differences between pay rates for staff in local offices here and those working in the "back offices".
The reason Belfast was chosen as the "back office"site for the relocation of work in the 90s was a pragmatic one in that it was the only place where suitable accommodation was available; an office had to be up and running in 18 months' time.
- The delay in staff gaining transfers from Belfast to Derry is a concern: comment? Saturday benefit paydays should be abolished as problems can arise if a payment is nor received and there is no office open. The Social Fund system leads many people into too much debt; it would be preferable to revert to the old grants system. There seems to be too much pressure on Agency staff, with the result that they do not have time to help in completion of forms: comment? I welcome the trend to start home visits again, but can the numbers be increased?
- I cannot comment on the grants/loans issue, which is a policy matter. The Agency will work on the whole area of advice giving by its staff; it is not happy with reports that claimant s are being sent to advice bureaux simply because Agency staff do not have the time to deal with queries. The Agency is carrying out more home visits than ever and the figures are expected to further increase.
- You mentioned that the Agency deals with 27 benefits including the complex DLA. For many claimants this must seem like a maze: will the single gateway form you mentioned provide a checklist for potential benefit titles? Are figures available for the amount of benefit unclaimed in NI in the last five years and, if so, what happens to this money?
- The Agency is well aware of the complexity of the benefit system and is focusing on staff training to improve advice to customers. The home visits programme is helping to identify many cases where additional benefit is due. Some thought is also being given to specialist training for staff, who could then hone in on specific client groups, for example, pensioners. There is also the prospect of developing IT systems, which would prompt relevant questions depending on a claimant's answers on a form. There are no figures available on the lack of benefits uptake here.
- Is there an annual budget for social security benefits?
- No, social security payments are non-cash limited.
- I am concerned that the method of payment for Working Family Tax Credit (WFTC) which goes to the "bread winner" in the family: this often means taking money away from mothers, which could impact on children. The New Deal programme does not seem to be working effectively: can other special initiatives be looked at especially to help the long-term unemployed?
- I cannot comment on the WFTC scheme, which is a policy system.
In terms of New Deal, the T&EA are responsible for training. The Agency's role is to ensure that people understand what is available. An early evaluation of New Deal is now available should the Committee wish to read it.
- There is concern about the take-up of benefits here: how successful have schemes been in the past to target those that should have been but were not claiming? Who carries out these campaigns, you or the voluntary sector?
- Evidence on the success or otherwise of take-up schemes has been patchy; there seem to be short-term results that then taper off. A well-targeted campaign will produce results.
- What is the thinking behind the new home visits scheme? Are annual figures available for the numbers visited in NI?
- The purpose behind home visits, which began again in earnest two years' ago, is to try to improve speed, accuracy and security by ensuring that new and existing claimants provide all the right informtion at one fell swoop thus cutting out delays and saving resources. Roughly 32,000 Income Support and Job See ker's Allownace new claimants were visited last year along with a further 50,000 existing claimants. The Agency can provide the Committee with a breakdown of these figures into its six regional areas. Visits are also being carried out to DLA claimants.
- I am finding an increasing number of my constituents who have lost their title to DLA as a result of a home visit: any comment?
- DLA awards are for both life and term so they can be reviewed to take account of a person's health for better or worse. Agency figures show that home visits have led to an increase in DLA awards overall.