Award Notices (Introduction)

This section of the Manual provides guidance on

• What action to take when an award notice is returned

• How to deal with a returned award notice that cannot be matched with a current claim

• What to do if you log a returned award notice onto the computer by mistake

And

• When and how to adjust the award reminder cycle if you need to allow extra time for an award notice to be returned

It also provides information on the layout and content of the new award notices issued to claimants after 6th April 2006.

Where a claimant is considered to be eligible, an award notice is issued to them detailing the entitlement awarded and the payment profile. From 6th April 2006 the award notice also gives a more enhanced breakdown of the claimant's payments and any overpayments that arise.

If the original claim had been signed then no further processing is required and the award continues for the period of the award.

However, if the claim was not signed the award notice issued to the claimant requests that they

• Review the award details

• Sign the award notice to indicate their acceptance

And

• Return it within a given period

Once the signed award notice has been returned Function LOG RETURNED AWARD NOTICE enables you to log its receipt on to the computer. The date that the notice was logged will be recorded on the computer and any subsequent processing that is required will be automatically initiated by the computer.

If the award notice cannot be matched by the computer using either the barcode reference number or the NINO(s) and the issue date, you must create an entry on the ‘Failed Logged Returned Award Notices’ Work List.

A returned award notice will only be logged onto the computer when all the claimants have signed it correctly. If an unsigned notice is logged by mistake, it can be unlogged and returned for signature.