The Social Security (Claims and Information) Regulations 1999

Further provisions as to claims

5.  The following regulations shall be inserted after regulation 4 of the Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations 1987(1)—

“Further provisions as to claims

4A.—(1) Where a claimant resides in both—

(a)the area of a local authority specified in Part I or II of Schedule 1 to the Social Security (Claims and Information) Regulations 1999(2); and

(b)a postcode district identified in Part I or II of Schedule 2 to the Social Security (Claims and Information) Regulations 1999,

any claim for a benefit to which paragraph (2) applies may be made to any office displaying the One logo(3) (whether or not that office is situated within the area of the local authority in which the claimant resides).

(2) The benefits to which this paragraph applies are —

(a)a jobseeker’s allowance;

(b)income support;

(c)incapacity benefit;

(d)invalid care allowance;

(e)severe disablement allowance;

(f)widow’s benefit;

(g)bereavement benefits;

(h)disability living allowance.

(3) A claim made in accordance with paragraph (1), other than a claim for income support or a jobseeker’s allowance, shall be made in writing on a form approved by the Secretary of State for the purpose of the benefit to which the claim is made, or in such other manner, being in writing, as the person to whom the claim is made may accept as sufficient in the circumstances of the particular case.

(4) In the case of a claim for income support or a jobseeker’s allowance, the provisions of regulation 4(1A) to (1C)(4) shall apply.

(5) In its application to the area of any authority specified in Part I or II of Schedule 1 to the Social Security (Claims and Information) Regulations 1999, the “appropriate office” in these Regulations includes also an office of an authority or person to whom claims may be made in accordance with paragraph (1).

(6) In these Regulations, a “participating authority” means any local authority or person to whom claims may be made in accordance with paragraph (1).

Forwarding claims and information

4B.—(1) A participating authority may —

(a)record information or evidence relating to any social security matter supplied by or obtained from a person at an office displaying the One logo, whether or not the information or evidence is supplied or obtained in connection with the making of a claim for benefit;

(b)give information or advice with respect to any social security matter to persons who are making, or have made, claims for any benefit to which regulation 4A(2) applies.

(2) A participating authority shall forward to the Secretary of State —

(a)any claim for benefit, other than a claim for housing benefit or council tax benefit, together with any information or evidence supplied to the authority in connection with that claim; and

(b)any information or evidence relating to any other social security matter, except where the information or evidence relates solely to housing benefit or council tax benefit given to the authority by a person making a claim for, or who has claimed, a benefit to which regulation 4A(2) applies.”.