Work and Pensions written question – answered at on 21 November 2011.
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many appeals against social fund crisis loan decisions were (a) upheld and (b) rejected in the last 12 months for which figures are available.
Crisis loans are part of the discretionary social fund and there is no right of appeal.
A discretionary social fund applicant who is dissatisfied with a decision may apply to have the initial decision reviewed. First reviews are carried out by a reviewing officer in Jobcentre Plus. If the applicant is not happy with the outcome of the first review they can apply to the Independent Review Service for a review by a social fund inspector.
Figures for reviews are contained in annex 13 to the annual report by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions on the social fund 2010-11. There were 107,230 applications for first review and 40,910 decisions were revised. The Independent Review Service reviewed 17,465 reviewing officer decisions, 8,983 of these decisions were confirmed and 8,482 were substituted.
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