Delay to benefit appeals system attacked

Political Editor

Wednesday 6 March 2013

SCOTTISH Labour has accused ministers of being "incapable" after it was confirmed that an appeals system for a key benefit will not be in place when it starts next month.

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Magnus Gardham Political Editor

Holyrood's welfare reform committee heard a scheme to handle appeals against council tax reduction (CTR) decisions will not be ready when the new benefit begins on April 1.

CTR will replace council tax benefit, which is being scrapped by the Coalition. Responsibility for the new benefit has been transferred to Holyrood.

Labour MSP Drew Smith said: "This shows just how incapable the SNP Government is when they are handed the very powers they have asked for."They keep asking for more powers and when they are given them, they don't put the necessary measures in place to ensure it is run properly. Sometimes, the technical, complicated details are the most important. This is one of these cases. "Being in government isn't just about press releases, speeches and announcements. "It's making sure systems work so Scots don't lose out by a bureaucracy – in Edinburgh – which makes the wrong decisions. On this, the SNP has failed."The Scottish Government is trying to draw up an appeals process at the last minute after volunteer valuation appeals panels, which ruled on council tax benefit disputes, said they were unable to take on a similar role under the new system.They heard 459 appeals last year.A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: "The Scottish Government, and our partners in local government have acted to protect the 560,000 vulnerable people in receipt of Council Tax Benefit from the UK Government's welfare cuts."If anyone wishes to contest their CTR after April 1 they should first ask for their case to be reviewed by the local authority in exactly the same way as under the present system." "We are in the process of establishing an alternative process for any concerns not resolved by local authorities and independent experts have agreed to formulate this to make sure it is done quickly and effectively."

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Local government

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Delay to benefit appeals system attacked

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