HC Deb 22 October 2001 vol 373 cc55-7W
Mr. Burstow

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will set out for Q1 1998–99 to Q1 2001–02(a) how many people were awaiting an appeal for Invalid Care Allowance at the end of each quarter, (b) the average time it took to process the appeal and (c) the average time it took to process the original claim. [7479]

Maria Eagle

[holding answer 15 October 2001]: The information is as follows:

(a) The number of Invalid Care Allowance appeals outstanding at the end of each quarter from 1998 to 2001 are shown in table 1. The figures for 2001–02 are not available.

Table 1: Invalid Care Allowance appeals on the last day of each quarter
Number
1998–99
Quarter 1 1,217
Quarter 2 1,274
Quarter 3 1,223
Quarter 4 1,358
1999–2000
Quarter 1 911
Quarter 2 661
Table 1: Invalid Care Allowance appeals on the last day of each quarter
Number
Quarter 3 449
Quarter 4 336
2000–01
Quarter 1 273
Quarter 2 304
Quarter 3 366
Quarter 4 392

Notes:

1. Information taken from 100 per cent. download of the Generic Appeals Processing System (GAPS). All figures are subject to change. Figures are being provided by BA DCBD.

2. Quarters run:

1. April-June, 2. July-September, 3. October-December, 4. January-March each year.

(b) The average clearance times from receipt of the Appeal by the Benefits Agency to the Appeals Service issuing the tribunal's decision and the average waiting times from receipt of the appeal by the Benefits Agency to the first hearing by a tribunal for 1998 to 2001 are shown in table 2. The figures for 2001–02 are not available.

Table 2: Invalid Care Allowance average clearance and waiting times—in weeks—for cases heard in the quarter
Clearance times1 Waiting times2
1998–99
Quarter 1 28.2 27.5
Quarter 2 28.5 27.8
Quarter 3 26.2 24.1
Quarter 4 28.6 24.6
1999–2000
Quarter 1 28.9 24.4
Quarter 2 29.3 25.2
Quarter 3 30.8 23.6
Quarter 4 39.1 26.5
2000–01
Quarter 1 28.7 22.0
Quarter 2 29.9 22.0
Quarter 3 27.1 21.7
Quarter 4 28.6 23.0

Notes:

1. Clearance times shown apply from the date of lodgement with the Benefits Agency to the Appeals Service issuing the tribunal's decision. Thus delays caused by adjournments are included. The time taken for the Benefits Agency to implement the decision is not included.

2. Waiting times shown apply from the date of lodgement with the Benefits Agency to the date of the first tribunal hearing.

3. Quarters run:

1. April-June, 2. July-September, 3 October-December, 4. January—March each year.

(c) The average times taken to process Invalid Care Allowance claims for 1998 to the first quarter of 2001–02 are shown in table 3.

Table 3: Average time taken to process an Invalid Care Allowance claim—in days—for quarters
Days
1998–99
Quarter 1 19.3
Quarter 2 18.3
Quarter 3 19.0
Quarter 4 18.7
Table 3: Average time taken to process an Invalid Care Allowance claim—in days—for quarters
Days
1999–2000
Quarter 1 18.0
Quarter 2 18.7
Quarter 3 21.0
Quarter 4 19.7
2000–01
Quarter 1 18.0
Quarter 2 20.3
Quarter 3 21.3
Quarter 4 20.0
2001–02
Quarter 1 19.7

Note:

1. Quarters run:

1. April-June, 2. July-September, 3. October-December, 4. January-March each year.