§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have appealed disability living allowance decisions in each year since 1997; what proportion were successful in an appeal; and what reasons people give for appealing initial decisions. [128103]
§ Maria EagleThis is a matter for Christina Townsend, Chief Executive of the Appeals Service. She will write to the hon. Member.
Disability Living Allowance appeals received by the Appeals Service, cleared at hearing or without a hearing, found in favour of the appellant at hearing and the percentage found in favour of the appellant each year since 1998. Number Caseload Received at the Appeals Service Non hearing clearances Cleared at hearing Found in favour Percentage found in favour 1998 1,980,200 62,925 2,255 42,950 20,330 47.3 1999 2,042,300 40,260 7,165 51,680 25,170 48.7 2000 2,110,200 95,160 18,270 63,050 31,065 49.3 2001 2,210,600 87,295 22,610 86,285 45,165 52.3 2002 2,322,800 82,345 20,880 72,815 39,490 54.2 January 2003 to July 2003 2,468,900 46,940 11,715 41,655 22,470 53.9 Notes:
All figures are subject to change as more up-to-date data becomes available. Figures for the latest months will rise significantly as information feeds through to the Appeals Service. Figures are rounded to the nearest 5 and percentages to 1 decimal place.
Source:
1AD Information Centre, 100% sample.
Caseload notes:
1. Cases where payment of benefit has been suspended are excluded
2. Taken from a 5 per cent. sample therefore figures may be subject to sampling variation.
3. Caseload as at February each year rounded to the nearest 100.
Source:
1AD Information Centre, 5 per cent. sample
§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proposals he has to speed up the appeals process for disability living allowance. [128104]
§ Maria EagleThis is a matter for Christina Townsend Chief Executive of the Appeals Service. She will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Christina Townsend to Mr. James Wray, dated 17 September 2003:
The Secretary of State has asked me to respond to your question regarding the proposals that are in place to speed up the appeals process for Disability Living Allowance.The Appeals Service Agency is committed to a twin strategy of reducing waiting times and clearing the backlog of older cases that accrue. We have made a determined effort to tackle older cases based on the policy of "first in first out". Wherever possible cases are cleared at first hearing. The average time from a Disability Living Allowance appeal being received by the Appeals Service to being cleared has reduced from 31.1 weeks, in 1998, to 15.1 weeks for the period January 2003–July 2003.I hope this reply is helpful.