The Welfare Food Regulations 1996

PART III MILK TOKENS

Issue of milk tokens

10.—(1) For each week that a beneficiary is entitled to receive milk or dried milk under regulation 3 or 4 the Secretary of State shall issue, or cause to be issued, to her a milk token to enable her to obtain her entitlement under these Regulations.

(2) Milk tokens shall when issued indicate on their face whether they are to be used for milk or dried milk.

(3) Milk tokens shall when issued indicate on their face that they may be used during a period of four weeks from the date of issue.

(4) The Secretary of State or any person who issues a milk token on his behalf may, before he issues a milk token which indicates it is to be used for dried milk, request documentary evidence of the age of any beneficiary from the person who is to receive the milk token.

(5) A milk token issued by the Department of Health and Social Services in Northern Ireland shall be valid in Great Britain as if it had been issued by or on behalf of the Secretary of State under these Regulations.

Use of milk tokens

11.—(1) A milk token may be used by a beneficiary within the period of its validity to obtain—

(a) milk in accordance with regulation 14, provided that the milk token indicates that it is to be used only for milk; or

(b) 900 grammes of dried milk from a clinic for a child under the age of one year, provided that the milk token indicates that it is to be used only for dried milk.

(2) A milk token which indicates that it is to be used only for milk may not be used to obtain dried milk, and one which indicates that it is to be used only for dried milk may not be used to obtain milk.

(3) No person shall use a milk token except in accordance with these Regulations.

(4) No person shall buy or sell a milk token issued under these Regulations.

Failure to receive milk tokens

12.—(1) Any beneficiary who is entitled to milk or dried milk under regulation 3 or 4 for a period (“the missing period”), but who does not receive it as a result of a failure to receive any milk token to which she is entitled under these Regulations for that period, may apply to an office of the Department of Social Security in writing for a payment.

(2) If the Secretary of State is satisfied, on an application under paragraph (1) that the beneficiary did not receive a milk token because of some act or omission on the part of the Secretary of State, or on the part of a person issuing milk tokens on his behalf, he shall pay the beneficiary—

(a) in the case of milk, an amount equal to the reasonable cost to her of purchasing the milk for the missing period; or

(b) in the case of dried milk, an amount equal to the lowest price payable for 900 grammes of a dried milk preferred by her at the nearest convenient clinic to where she lives multiplied by the number of weeks in the missing period.

Control of milk tokens

13.—(1) Every milk token is and shall remain the property of the Secretary of State.

(2) Any person holding milk tokens shall, when requested by the Secretary of State, produce or deliver to the Secretary of State all milk tokens in his possession within such time and to such place as he may direct in writing.

(3) The Secretary of State may cancel any milk token which cannot be validly used under these Regulations.

(4) If a beneficiary receives a milk token issued in accordance with regulation 10 and, before it is exchanged, the milk token is lost or stolen or accidentally destroyed she may apply at an office of the Department of Social Security for a replacement milk token and if the Secretary of State is satisfied that the milk token has been lost or stolen or accidentally destroyed whilst in her possession he may give her a replacement milk token.