§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average time taken to process claims for renewal of attendance and mobility allowance, respectively.
§ Mr. NewtonThe information requested is not available as renewal claims are not included in routine analyses of clearance times. However, procedures for dealing with renewal claims are such that their average clearance time is likely to be broadly the same as for new claims which are successful at the initial stage. Currently this is eight and a half weeks for attendance allowance and seven and a half weeks for mobility allowance. Renewal claims are invited four months (attendance allowance) and three months (mobility allowance) before the expiry of the existing award so that payments to claimants whose claims are successful should continue without interruption.