Dear Ministry of Social Development,
To whom it may concern,
!/ For the years 1990 1991 & 1992 if a female client with dependent minors made a request for assistance to the Ministry after the accidental death of a spouse, how did the DSW execute the provisions stated in Part 1A Purpose of the Act
(a) . to ensure that the financial support referred to in [previous] paragraphs a & b of this Act is provided to people taking into account-
( i) 'Where appropriate they should use resources available to them before seeking financial support under this Act and...
(ii) any financial support that they may be eligible for or are already receiving, OTHER THAN UNDER THIS ACT, FROM PUBLICLY FUNDED SOURCES.
I have been supplied with the associated manual used by staff at this time. This refers mostly to what a 'case worker' would do when in receipt of an application for assistance, soon after spousal demise, but not what steps are undertaken when an application is made some time later, ie. 6mths or longer after fatal event, as per paragraph (i), to ensure that paragraph(ii) is applied correctly?
2/ How did the DSW determine what was considered "reasonable provision", regarding a portion of an estate, as instructed by a Will, benefitting a spouse or dependent,so as to correctly apply any benefit reduction applicable?
3/ How did the question of "adequate provision" arise during processing?
For instance when & why would an estate executor be requested to supply information, or a copy of a will (if applicable) to ascertain what financial support ( if any) the applicant has/is already received/ing or available to them.
In other words how was an applicants eligibility to a main benefit confirmed or supported as being appropriate for DSW assistance, upon a later application, other than an applicants statement??
4/In the DSW Manual under the heading section F " Estate" DSW advised applicants to pursue a larger portion of an estate under the Family Protection Act 1955, after it determined that it was appropriate to do so,why could DSW not advise a client to pursue any OTHER form of financial assistance available to the client, it had determined was available or appropriate as in both paragraph 1A (I) 7(ii)??
5/ Did DSW investigate alternative avenues of financial assistance available to a claimant before, during or after acceptance of an application for a main benefit & so reduce a claimants dependence on DSW assistance.?

Yours faithfully,

L.K.Barber