KTtEqv5g
type: Answer
type: WrittenAnswer
answer has question: KdUc6bMM
answer has answering person: Uj24yw4q
answer text: The First-tier Tribunal—Social Security and Child Support (SSCS), administered by HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS), hears appeals against Department for Work and Pensions' (DWP) decisions on a range of benefits, including attendance allowance (AA). The total number of appeals received by the SSCS tribunal nationally has risen significantly: from 339,200 in 2009-10 to 507,100 in 2012-13 (an increase of 49%). The number of AA appeals received has risen from 3,874 in 2009-10 to 5,037 in 2012-13 (an increase of 30%). HMCTS has responded strongly at a national level to continue to increase the capacity of the SSCS tribunal and reduce waiting times. Measures in place include ongoing recruitment of additional judges and medically qualified members and the review and continuous improvement of administrative processes both internally and between HMCTS and DWP. This is in addition to local initiatives, such as identifying additional hearing venues across HMCTS estate, and increasing the use of Saturday sessions. All of this is having a positive effect. The total number of disposals (which includes appeals disposed of at a tribunal hearing as well as those struck out, superseded or withdrawn) has increased significantly from 279,000 in 2009-10 to 465,500 in 2012-13 (an increase of 66%). AA disposals have increased from 3,543 in 2009-10 to 5,231 in 2012-13. In the first quarter of this year, the tribunal disposed of 1,345 AA appeals, compared to 1,237 in the same quarter last year, an increase of 9%. HMCTS does not hold data on average waiting times by benefit type. However, the average waiting time for all benefit types has fallen nationally from 23-weeks in 2011-12 to 18-weeks in 2012-13. This reduction has been sustained in the first quarter of2013-14.
answer given date: 2013-11-06+00:00
answer has answering body: BRTNQywN
written answer has answering body: BRTNQywN