Asked by: Brian Mathew (Liberal Democrat - Melksham and Devizes)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department have made of the impact of delays to Disability Living Allowance decisions on families caring for children with hidden disabilities in (a) Melksham and Devizes and (b) the UK.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
We are committed to ensuring people can access financial support through Disability Living Allowance for children (DLAc) in a timely manner. Reducing customer journey times for our claimants is a priority for the Department and we are working to make improvements to our service. Between October 2024 to March 2025, the Department recruited and re-deployed in excess of 100 case managers to improve clearance times for DLAc new claims. Between 1 August 2025 and 31 March 2026, the percentage of DLAc claims cleared within planned timescales rose from 4.7% to 90.7%. More information can be found on Gov.uk: DLA for children for claims cleared between 1 August 2025 and 31 March 2026 - GOV.UK.
Asked by: Brian Mathew (Liberal Democrat - Melksham and Devizes)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how his Department ensures individuals with (a) hidden and (b) fluctuating disabilities are properly assessed and receive adequate support.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Healthcare Professionals (HCPs) conducting the Work Capability Assessment and the Personal Independence Payment assessment are trained specialists in disability analysis. Their focus is on understanding the functional impact of a customer’s condition, rather than its clinical diagnosis. All HCPs receive specific training on assessing the effects of physical and mental health conditions, including those that may be considered ‘hidden disabilities’ and those that fluctuate.
HCPs also have access to a wide range of core training and guidance materials. These resources offer detailed clinical and functional information and are quality assured to ensure their accuracy from both a clinical and policy perspective. These materials cover a broad spectrum of hidden and fluctuating conditions.
Asked by: Brian Mathew (Liberal Democrat - Melksham and Devizes)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the time taken for Disability Living Allowance Mandatory Reconsideration decisions.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
We have approved overtime and reallocated decision makers to clear our outstanding Disability Living Allowance Child Mandatory Reconsideration cases more quickly. This will help us to reduce clearance times.
Asked by: Brian Mathew (Liberal Democrat - Melksham and Devizes)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps her Department is taking to reduce the backlog of people waiting for tribunals as part of their PIP application process.
Answered by Stephen Timms - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
The Department understands the potential effect of waiting for a tribunal hearing, which is why our aim is to make the right decision as early as possible in the claim journey so that people can get the support they are entitled to, without the need for an appeal. When a claim reaches the appeal stage, the Department can lapse the appeal where evidence supports a change in decision which is favourable to the customer.
Appeals are lodged with, and administered by, HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS). A variety of factors can affect the number of cases cleared by the Tribunal including the complexity of the issue in dispute; the availability of panel members assigned to a particular venue; and if an appeal is adjourned (which may be directed by the judge for a variety of reasons, such as to seek further medical evidence). Any increase to the live load is monitored, and investigated, locally.