Minister welcomes sharp fall in appeals against benefit decisions
13 Jun 2014 03:33 PM
The number of benefit
decision appeals dropped by 79% to 32,546 between January and March 2014,
compared to same time last year.
The figures come after
fundamental reform to the way DWP manages disputes – mandatory
reconsideration – where officials will now look again at a decision and
any additional evidence before it goes to an appeal.
Claimants are now contacted much
earlier in the process, with the decision explained to them, and giving them
the chance to challenge it if they feel it is incorrect at the earliest
possible opportunity.
Streamlining of the appeals
process is part of the government’s long-term economic plan to reform
welfare and ensure benefit support is better targeted at those who need it
most. The government currently spends around £94 billion a year on
working-age benefits.
Big falls in appeals have been
seen across DWP decisions including:
- a decrease of around 89% against
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) decisions
- over 70% reduction in appeals on
Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) decisions
Minister of State for Disabled
People Mike Penning said:
Fewer appeals going to tribunal
is welcome news. Getting more decisions right the first time avoids the need
for protracted tribunal appeals. Going to tribunal is not only expensive for
the taxpayer but leads to delays in people getting the money where they are
eligible.
Thanks to streamlining the
disputes process, this new safeguard gives claimants the chance to raise their
grievance promptly, provide further evidence and have their claim reassessed
without the unnecessary stress of an appeal.
As part of the
government’s long-term economic plan, we are committed to helping as many
people into work as possible, rather than just writing them off on out-of-work
benefits as happened in the past. We also want to make sure we help and support
those too sick to work, which we are doing.
The DWP has also
introduced the Claimant Commitment for JSA claimants, where
jobseekers agree to take more proactive steps to find work on a daily basis
– with close help from a designated work coach.
More
information
See the Ministry of Justice tribunal statistics for January to March
2014
DWP introduced mandatory
reconsideration for all benefit cases last year.
The DWP will look to
publish official statistics about mandatory reconsiderations in due
course.
Contact Press
Office
Media enquiries for this press
release – 0203 267 5108
Press Office
Caxton House
Tothill Street
London
SW1H 9NA
London Press Office (national
media and London area enquiries only – not questions about personal
claims)020 3267 5144
Out-of-hours (journalists
only)076 59 108 883
England and Wales (local media
enquiries)029 20 586 then 097or 098 or 099
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enquiries)0131 310 1122
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