Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what financial safeguards his Department have put in place to protect vulnerable claimants in the event that their claim is delayed as a result appeals by her Department on the First-tier decision to award personal Independence payments.

At any time whilst payment is suspended as a result of a challenge to the tribunal judgement by the Secretary of State, a claimant can request that it is lifted on hardship grounds. Each case is considered on its merits and challenge will only be brought if we believe that a tribunal’s decision is erroneous in law.