SOCIAL SECURITY FOOD COSTS BONUS 2012 explained

The application form from the Social Security Department for the FOOD COSTS BONUS and/or COLD WEATHER BONUS for 2012 explains that it is an annual fixed payment of £218.36p which is payable to HOUSEHOLDS who satisfy certain conditions. The rules from the Income Support Law are used to decide who is included in a household.....

The form lays down WHO CAN CLAIM
a.....
b....
c The household is NOT RECEIVING INCOME SUPPORT.....
   OR
   The household IS RECEIVING A TRANSITIONAL INCOME SUPPORT PAYMENT.....

We at SSTAG thought this meant that households who receive a TRANSITIONAL payment (therefore are qualified for the BONUS payment)  would most likely also be receiving INCOME SUPPORT so would  NOT be qualified  for the same BONUS.
BUT we were confused - what does it really mean?

Senator Francis Le Gresley, the SOCIAL SECURITY  MINISTER has responded to our questions and responded as follows;

"The words have remained unchanged since the GST Food Costs Bonus was introduced in 2008.

Transitional Income Support is payable where a person is entitled to receive a protected payment of one of the previous States' funded benefits, for example Disabled Transport Allowance or Housing Rebate when Income Support was introduced in 2008.
These payments have not been increased by the rate of GST therefore anyone receiving a transitional Income Support payment can receive a Food Costs Bonus.

However where a person is receiving Income Support without a transitional adjustment their payment has been increased in line with the GST percentage and are therefore NOT entitled to a Food Costs Bonus.

Persons who are receiving a transitional Income Support payment will find this information in their Award Letter issued by the Social Security Department."

We at SSTAG suggest that if in doubt you 'phone the SS Department on 445505 but since that Department must know everybody who qualifies for this Bonus payment already from existing information on their files then they should just award the payment automatically. Why send out yet more forms to fill out and cause worry to people who read in the JEP that Francis Le Gresley is determined to prosecute everybody who commits fraud etc?
Once again the Form carries the usual WARNING:
"Any person who knowingly makes a false statement or false representation commits a crime for which they may be prosecuted and they may also be required to repay any amount of benefit overpaid."

BUT how many people are frightened off by such warnings and outbursts from the Minister so that they do not even bother to claim for payments and awards to which they are fully entitled? Why does every communication from the Social Department have to be laced with dire warnings and threats of prosecution?

Surely it is time for the Social Security Minister to come clean and publish details of ALL payments that are knowingly not being claimed  and what he proposes to do about it? And why does so much information published by his Department have be so difficult to understand - even by those for whom English is a first language?

If you have trouble with this Bonus or any other aspects of Social Security administration please let us know at SSTAG.