30 April 2009 – Appointment of Carolyn George and John Andrews to the Social Security Advisory Committee (SSAC)

The Social Security Advisory Committee is pleased to announce that the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, James Purnell, has appointed Ms Carolyn George and Mr John Andrews as members of the SSAC for a term of three years from 1 April 2009.  

Carolyn George is a freelance writer and trainer and has worked in the welfare rights field for nearly 30 years. She has worked in the Citizens’ Rights Office at Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG), with Citizen’s Advice and with other advice organisations, giving advice both to members of the public and to other advisors. She has been a part-time lecturer in Law at the University of Northumbria (1994-2003), including supervising students in its Student Law Office. She is an experienced advocate and was part of CPAG’s legal team. She was a lay member of the Social Security Appeal Tribunal Panel (1984-1999). Carolyn has extensive experience in providing training and information. She is an author of CPAG’s Housing Benefit and Council Tax Legislation and the Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook and has contributed to a large number of other publications.

John M Andrews OBE is Chairman and founder of the Low Incomes Tax Reform Group (LITRG), a charitable initiative by the Chartered Institute of Taxation to give a voice to the unrepresented in the tax/tax credits systems. LITRG also founded Tax Help for Older People (TOP) which has 650 volunteers giving pro bono tax help to low income pensioners through telephone help and face to face delivery. He has a particular interest in the ways that the DWP and HMRC might work together to provide a better, joined-up service to their most vulnerable customers. He has been involved as a full-time volunteer in the charity sector for the past dozen years and was awarded an OBE in 2003 for his charitable services. In an earlier life he was the national Head of Tax at Coopers&Lybrand (now PricewaterhouseCoopers) and was an author of a number of tax books.

Notes to Editors

1. The SSAC is the advisory body for the United Kingdom on social security matters, except those relating to industrial injuries, war pensions, occupational pensions, and national insurance contributions. It has fourteen members, including the Chairman, each of whom is appointed by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for a term of three years.
2. Appointments to the SSAC are regulated by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA) and each appointment is overseen by an independent assessor approved by OCPA.