Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 22 June 2022 to Question 17999 on Social Security Benefits: Tribunals, what was the average additional time given to decision makers to proactively contact claimants where they think additional evidence may support a claim in the last 12 months.

Decision makers are not given a time limit for making a call where they think additional evidence may support the claim. The call will last as long as is needed to ensure that the claimant’s dispute is fully understood and they have had the opportunity to explain why they disagree with the decision and provide any further information.