New tribunal statistics show the DWP is giving in more often when benefit claimants make appeals.
Government tribunal data from April to June 2024 indicates that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is more likely to make a decision before a hearing, although this has led to longer waiting times for those who need to go to tribunal after lodging an appeal.
Meanwhile, the number of appeals lodged by claimants dropped by 8 per cent compared to the same period last year, with a total of 32,000 appeals being made. Upon closer examination, PIP appeals now account for 64 per cent of all appeal cases, while Universal Credit accounts for 21 per cent, the Benefits and Work website reports.
Despite this, there was an 11 per cent decrease in PIP appeals and a 34 per cent decrease in DLA appeals. While 29,000 cases were resolved, 61 per cent of them went to the hearing stage, compared to 70 per cent last year.
This suggests that the DWP is resolving more appeals before they reach the hearing stage. That theory is further supported by the drop in successful appeals from 63 per cent last year to 60 per cent this year, suggesting that the DWP may be choosing to contest cases where it has a better chance of winning.
The success rate of appeal tribunals is as follows:
- PIP 69%
- DLA 59%
- UC 49%
- ESA 44%
On average, it now takes an average of 35 weeks for an appeal case to reach tribunal from the date the claimant logged it. This is an increase of eight weeks during the same period last year.
Furthermore, there was a 12 per cent increase in open cases by the end of June, with a total of 79,000 open cases. The DWP has been approached for comment.
Meanwhile, PIP recipients in one area of the UK are seeing a significant change to how it operates. Up in Scotland, the devolved benefits agency has taken control of more than 200,000 cases of disabled people from the UK Government.
Data issued in September showed that 207,295 people were getting the adult disability payment (ADP) from Social Security Scotland as of July 31.
That benefit is the Scottish equivalent of the personal independence payment provided by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). A little over 2,000 of those transferred were receiving the disability living allowance for adults.
A total of £1.57 billion has been paid out in ADP since March 2022.
Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “Adult disability payment was designed in partnership with disabled people to be better, fairer and easier to access.
“We are continuing to transfer the awards of disabled people from the DWP to our new system.”
A DWP spokesperson said: “We support millions of people every year and our top priority is they receive a supportive service and get the benefits they are entitled to swiftly. Our Disability Assessors are qualified health professionals and decisions are made using all the information available at the time. If someone disagrees with a decision, they can ask for this to be reconsidered and appeal to an independent tribunal.”
