The Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987

[F1Making a claim for employment and support allowance in writingE+W+S

4H.—(1) A claim (“a written claim”) for employment and support allowance need only be made in writing if the Secretary of State so directs in any particular case but a written claim may be made whether or not a direction is issued.

(2) A written claim must be made on a form approved for the purpose by the Secretary of State and be made in accordance with the instructions on the form.

(3) A claim in writing may also be made at the offices of—

(a)a local authority administering housing benefit F2...;

(b)a person providing to such an authority services relating to housing benefit F3...; or

(c)a person authorised to exercise the function of a local authority relating to housing benefit F4...,

if the Secretary of State has arranged with the local authority or person specified in sub-paragraph (b) or (c) for them to receive claims in accordance with this paragraph.

(4) Where a written claim is made in accordance with paragraph (3), on receipt of that claim the local authority or other person specified in that paragraph—

(a)must forward the claim to the Secretary of State as soon as reasonably practicable;

(b)may receive information or evidence relating to the claim supplied by—

(i)the person making, or who has made, the claim; or

(ii)other persons in connection with the claim,

and shall forward it to the Secretary of State as soon as reasonably practicable;

(c)may obtain information or evidence relating to the claim from the person who has made the claim, but not any medical information or evidence except for that which the claimant must provide in accordance with instructions on the form, and must forward the information or evidence to the Secretary of State as soon as reasonably practicable;

(d)may record information or evidence relating to the claim supplied or obtained in accordance with sub-paragraph (b) or (c) and may hold the information or evidence (whether as supplied or obtained or as recorded) for the purpose of forwarding it to the Secretary of State; and

(e)may give information and advice with respect to the claim to the person who makes, or who has made, the claim.

(5) Paragraphs (4)(b) to (e) apply in respect of information, evidence and advice relating to any claim whether the claim is made in accordance with paragraph (3) or otherwise.

(6) If a written claim is defective when first received, the Secretary of State is to advise the person making it of the defect and of the provisions of regulation 6(1F) relating to the date of claim.

(7) If that person corrects the defect so that the claim then satisfies the requirements of paragraph (2) and does so within one month, or such longer period as the Secretary of State considers reasonable, of the date the Secretary of State [F5first] drew attention to the defect, the claim must be treated as having been properly made in the first instance.]