Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to ensure that all benefit applications are processed within five working days.

All claims for benefit are processed as quickly as possible and individual expectations on the number of days this takes is tailored across all our different products and services.

We are now processing benefits more quickly and accurately with 90% of key out-of-work benefits processed within planned timescales in 2015/16.

Where claimants are in urgent financial need and have claimed Jobseekers Allowance, Income Support, Employment and Support Allowance, Carers Allowance, Pension Credit and State Pension they can apply for an advance on their first benefit payment. This is called a Short Term Benefit Advance.