Socialities
On the side custos
One area of possible abuse of social security benefits is where claimants work on the side, and draw their unemployment pay and supplementary benefits. To ensure that this is kept to a minimum, the Department employs special investigators and instructs counter clerks to keep watch for likely dodgers.
Custos has had reported recently a couple of cases where the officials seem to be acting overzealously. A voluntary organisation answered an inquiry from a gipsy, who had recently returned home from hospital after having treatment for cancer of the scalp. The local social security office paid a supplementary allowance of only £6, although the family was entitled to over £16 a week. When the Department was challenged, a local officer said this was the "normal procedure." Why was it the normal procedure? asked the gipsy's friend. "Because they all work on the side." The friend said to the gipsy, "Do you?", to which the gipsy replied, "I have to. How can you feed four children on £6 a week?" No comment.
In Cardiff, the Department is so concerned about fiddlers that a special team of investigators will be employed for the next four weeks to detect dodgers drawing the dole or supplementary allowances while working in the early potato fields. When the area manager was questioned on his plans he reported that the investigators will be operating on sufficient strength to swoop on particular fields each day. Each picker will be interviewed and checked by the early' squad.
What happens to a claimant who has been wrongfully accused of abusing his right to social security? This is a theme which Baroness Elles indirectly touched on when making her maiden speech in the Lords last week. The debate was on the Legal Aid and Assistance Bill. In the debate, Lady Elles rightly praised the Government for bringing in the £25 scheme, whereby people on low income will be able to receive free up to £25 of legal help.
Under the present legal aid scheme, which will continue to operate until next spring, a claimant who disputes a decision that he is fiddling social security may be given free legal aid. At first it will cost him nothing, although he may be asked to contribute to the cost of the proceedings, even if he wins. This can have bizarre consequences, as the following case shows. Recently a man appealed to the Grimsby Crown Court against a conviction, with its £15 fine (plus £15 costs) for allegedly working on the side while drawing benefit. The man won the appeal, but the court directed he should pay £50 towards the legal aid cost of his defence. Innocence established, but at a cost of £20. A case for Baroness Elles?
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