Social Security Benefits: Appeals

Work and Pensions written question – answered at on 19 October 2011.

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Photo of Vernon Coaker Vernon Coaker Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average time was between submission of an appeal against a decision on the award of (a) employment and support allowance and (b) disability living allowance and the appeal hearing in the latest period for which figures are available.

Photo of Chris Grayling Chris Grayling The Minister of State, Department for Work and Pensions

In the current year, April 2011 to September 2011, the average actual clearance time (AACT) for an employment and support allowance (ESA) appeal was 35.2 days. For the same period the average actual clearance time (AACT) for a disability living allowance (DLA) appeal was 31.9 days.

The start date for measuring the clearance time is the date that a duly made appeal is received within the Department of Work and Pensions. The end date is when the appeal submission is issued to Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS).

In addition, the table shows the average time taken from receipt of an appeal at HMCTS to the date of the first appeal hearing for employment and support allowance and disability living allowance appeals.

The information covers 1 April to 31 August 2011, the latest period for which figures are available.

Average time in weeks from receipt at HMCTS to first hearing
Employment and support allowance 23.20
Disability living allowance 25.48

Waiting times for a hearing result from an unexpectedly high level of appeals. In response, HMCTS has significantly increased its capacity and, nationally, published management information showing that 28% more social security and child support appeals were cleared between 1 April and 31 August 2011 when compared with the same period in 2010 (and 72% when compared with this period in 2009). In August 2011 clearances were 27% higher than August 2010, and 84% higher than August 2009. The number of disposals in August 2011 exceeded receipts for the eighth consecutive month. Further capacity increases are in hand.

The source of the data is the Management Information System Programme (MISP). MISP is the departmental performance management, data capture and reporting tool. This type of internal management information does not form part of the official statistics outputs that are released by the Department in accordance with the UK Statistics Authority's Code of Practice.

Sources:

1. HMCTS Social Security and Child Support monthly returns

2. Department for Work and Pensions - Management Information Statistics

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