Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he is taking to reduce the time taken to make payments for (a) personal independence payments and (b) employment and support allowance.

We regularly review the way in which we process personal independence payments (PIP) and employment and support allowance (ESA) to ensure claimants are paid at the earliest opportunity. PIP has an on-going continuous improvement plan in place. Identifying opportunities for claimants to provide the ‘right’ evidence at the ‘right’ time, enhancing the quality of the decision making process.

Where the claimant has not provided all the information required to determine their award we proactively seek this information from them or a third party.

Once an award for ESA has been made we select the quickest method of payment available to ensure that any payment due is paid to the claimant as quickly as possible. For the majority of new claimants to PIP they will be paid any arrears of benefit within a few days of the decision being made.