TORIES RIP OFF THE POOR Socialicia Security at the

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Tory Conference delegates bay for blood-vours!

This week the introduction of the Social Security No. 1 and 2 Acts cincided with the annual uprating of benefits on 24 November.

The first Social Security Bill -now the Social Security Act 1980-removed the obligation to increase pensions in line with earnings or prices whichever is greater.

There is now only a duty to increase pensions in line with prices. (Some Tory ministers want in future to disregard the prices of cigarettes and alcohol ın order turther to rob the pensioners).

The Social Security No. 2 Act involves major changes in the Supplementary Benefit scheme.

Much of the discretion in the system is now abolished and there are now specific regulations to cover every payment.

The Supplementary Benefits Commission has been abolished and its policy-making role has passed to government ministers.

The responsibility for guidance on interpretation of law now rests with a Chief Supplementary Benefit Officer.

Decisions • on entitlement which used to be made on behalf of the Supplementary Benefits Commission will now be made by Supplementary Benefit Officers Executive Officers in local DHSS offices) acting on behalf of the Secretary of State.

There is no right of appeal against decisions taken on behalf of the Secretary of State which relate to sponsored immigrants, maintenance payments from relatives, repayment of overpayments, 'the method of paying supplementary benefit and replacement of lost or stolen giros or benefit order books.

There is still a right of appeal against any other decisions made by Supplementary Benefit Officers.

However Supplementary Benefit Appeal Tribunals, which in the past had discretionary powei to overrule the decisions of supplementary benefits staff, are now bound 'by the same detailed regulations operating in local DHSS offices.

In the past claimants were entitled to claim "exceptional needs payments" for repair and replacement of clothing. Now these payments are only made "in very exceptional circumstances"

The regulations say that these payments will not be made to cover normal wear and tear of clothing and children outgrowing clothes.

There is fall-back power to make a payment only:

"if in the opinion of a benefit officer, such a payment is the only means by which serious damage or risk to the health, safety or welfare of the assessment unit (the claimant and family) may be prevented." Social Security axeman Prentice The instructions say that this fall-back power should not be used indiscriminately and that the only discretion should be negative discretion.

They also state that the onus is now on the claimant to prove a need for an "exceptional needs payment" (e.g. by showing worn clothing). Previously an officer could award a payment if he or she felt it was necessary.

The amount of money saved by cutting down on these clothing grants is small-but many claimants who have lived for some time at supplementary benefit level will find it very difficult to manage as they have grown to depend on these periodic payments. requests for clothing grants and who have difficulty budgeting.

Their role will be to give advice and to make 'savings' (deductions) from the claimant's benefit (which will be a lot of help!).

This is also dangerous as many of the poor will be singled out as "problem cases"

The new legislation will also affect youth and put additional responsibility back on the family.

In the past school leavers were eligible to claim benefit at the end of the term they left Now a school leaver will not be eligible to claim benefit until the end of the holiday period following his or her last term at (The unemployment figures will thus be artificially reduced as school leavers will not be signing on for that period).

Occupational pensions and sick pay from work is now deducted in full from benefit, previously some of it was disregarded.

Claimants with savings of £2,000 and over are no longer entitled to supplementary benefit.

This will affect many pensioners and also workers who receive redundancy payments and lump sum payments such as lite assurances.

Unfortunately, there has only been token opposition to these Acts from the unions representing social security staff, the CPSA and the SCrS.

Most opposition has come from welfare rights groups such as CPAG-who have produced a lot of material on the new legislation and informed claimants of their rights under the new system:

It is necessary to fight tor strike action by the CPSA and • SCPS to reverse this reactionary legislation and to demand its repeal by a future Labour

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Wednesday November JOHN LISTER looks hunger strike by republi camp and Armagh Gaol, r