DWP benefit claimants face agonising delays as department 'surrenders' more appeals before tribunal hearing

The latest figures from the DWP show that the department is giving up on more benefit appeals before they reach a tribunal hearing - although the vast majority of cases are still won by claimants

The latest figures from the government show that claimants disputing their entitlements with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) are increasingly winning their cases without needing a hearing. The data, covering April to June, showed a drop in the proportion of claims the DWP contested at tribunals, from 70% down to 61%, representing around 17,000 cases.

This could mean that more claimants may have their benefits uprated without having to go through opposition at a hearing.

Meanwhile, those who do end up at tribunal hearings may not be as fortunate. According to an analysis by the Benefits and Work forum, there's been a 9% decrease, which indicates "the DWP is surrendering before the appeal date in an increasing number of cases."

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It seems the DWP is possibly focusing on appeals where it believes it has a better chance of success. However, the department has seen an improvement in outcomes at hearings, with the rate of dismissed claims going up by 3% to 40%.

Over 79,000 people are still waiting for their appeal, the picture suggests a changing strategy by the DWP in how it handles these disputes, reports the Express. Despite facing backlash over the extensive waiting times, individuals seeking a decision from the DWP and an increase in their income are now confronted with an additional eight-week delay for their hearing.

Even though the total number of benefit appeals has seen a year-on-year decrease, DWP data reveals that the wait to have a case heard at a tribunal is now a shocking 35 weeks. During this time, benefit claimants must make do with the amount initially awarded to them. The majority (64%) of appeals are for Personal Independence Payment, suggesting that disabled and ill Brits are waiting nearly nine months to have their case heard - even though a significant 69 per cent eventually win their appeal.

These extended waits for benefit claimants taken to an appeals hearing are likely to continue as, by the end of June, the backlog of appeals reported by the DWP had risen by 12 per cent to 79,000. Between April and June, at benefit appeals hearings, PIP claimants were successful in 69 per cent of cases, while people on DLA won in 59 per cent, a four per cent decrease compared to the same period last year.

Similarly, successful appeals for ESA awards fell by eight per cent, with only 44 per cent of claimants succeeding at a hearing. For Universal Credit, which accounted for a fifth of all appeals, claimants also faced more difficulties, with just under half (49%) winning their case, a drop of five per cent.