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Disability Living Allowance
Mr. Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to his answer of 20 March 2001, Official Report, column 204W, how many applications for Disability Living Allowance were received in each quarter of the last
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three years; how many of these were (a) successful, (b) unsuccessful, (c) subject to review, (d) successful at review, (e) unsuccessful at review, (f) subject to reconsideration, (g) successful at reconsideration, (h) unsuccessful at reconsideration, (i) subject to supersession, (j) successful at supersession, (k) unsuccessful at supersession, (l) subject to appeal, (m) successful at appeal and (n) unsuccessful at appeal; what the average number of days taken was to process applications; and how many decisions had not been reached at the end of each quarter for (i) first claim, (ii) renewal, (iii) review, (iv) reconsideration, (v) supersession and (iv) appeal stages. [157424]
Mr. Bayley: Available information is in the tables.
| Initial decisions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Quarter ending | Claims received | Successful | Unsuccessful |
| March 1998 | 97,387 | 47,792 | 57,148 |
| June 1998 | 96,125 | 42,954 | 51,796 |
| September 1998 | 103,061 | 43,899 | 51,754 |
| December 1998 | 96,022 | 44,157 | 52,083 |
| March 1999 | 103,069 | 44,587 | 52,564 |
| June 1999 | 98,997 | 45,757 | 53,746 |
| September 1999 | 97,542 | 46,974 | 52,716 |
| December 1999 | 91,311 | 39,053 | 38,248 |
| March 2000 | 104,749 | 49,257 | 45,680 |
| June 2000 | 104,079 | 51,718 | 50,554 |
| September 2000 | 100,670 | 57,283 | 57,814 |
| December 2000 | 96,333 | 48,358 | 46,708 |
Source:
DSS Information Centre: 100 per cent. data
| Quarter ending | In time review | Reconsideration | Appeal |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 1998 | 8,500 | -- | 3,300 |
| May 1998 | 6,900 | -- | 3,400 |
| August 1998 | 6,700 | -- | 4,200 |
| November 1998 | 6,600 | -- | 3,900 |
| February 1999 | 6,700 | -- | 3,800 |
| May 1999 | 5,900 | -- | 4,100 |
| August 1999 | 6,800 | -- | 4,600 |
| November 1999 | 6,000 | 400 | 3,700 |
| February 2000 | 2,800 | 2,600 | 3,500 |
| May 2000 | 900 | 3,800 | 4,100 |
| Aug 2000 | -- | 4,300 | 4,400 |
(42) Reconsiderations replaced in-time reviews under the new system of decision making and appeals which was introduced in October 1999
Source:
DSS Information Centre: 5 per cent. data
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(43) Reconsiderations and supersessions replaced reviews under the new system of decision making and appeals which was introduced in October 1999
(44) Figures relate to the period starting on April 1
(45) Includes both 'in time' and 'out of time' reviews
Source:
BA Disability and Carer Benefits Directorate
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(46) Includes both 'in time' and 'out of time' reviews
Source:
Disability and Carer Benefits Directorate
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The number of people who receive Disability Living Allowance continues to increase. Significant backlogs of work accrued in the processing of these benefits last year, because of the growing caseload and introduction of a new system of decision making and appeals. The Benefits Agency tackled the backlog as a priority and it has now been substantially cleared. The continuing high level of appeals outstanding reflects the increase in the numbers received following the introduction of the new procedures.
Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many complaints have been received about the Benefits Agency regarding claims to Disability Living Allowance for each month since May 1997. [155416]
Mr. Bayley: The administration of Disability Living Allowance is a matter for Alexis Cleveland, Chief Executive of the Benefits Agency. She will write to the hon. Member.
Letter from Alexis Cleveland to Mr. David Willetts, dated 10 April 2001:
- The Secretary of State for Social Security has asked me to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many complaints have been received about the Benefits Agency regarding claims to Disability Living Allowance for each month since May 1997.
- Information is not available for the period prior to April 1998. From April 1998, the number of complaints made in respect of Disability Living Allowance by letter, telephone or in person is in the table.
(47) Figures for March 2001 are not yet available
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It should be noted that while the statistics show the number of all types of complaints about the standard of service received, they also include cases in which dissatisfaction has been expressed with the outcome of benefit decisions which must be pursued through the decision making and appeals process.
There was a steady increase in the figures throughout the period up to June 2000. This can be attributed to an increase in work on hand before and after the introduction of new decision making and appeals procedures. It is well-documented that changes to Disability Living Allowance procedures introduced in October 1999 led initially to a significant increase in the time taken to process each case. This created a temporary backlog of work, which resulted in an increase in the number of complaints. The backlog was tackled as a priority and has now been cleared with the result that the level of complaints have steadily decreased each month since July 2000.
I hope this information is helpful.
Mr. Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will give a breakdown in number and relevant percentage of the DLA decisions on (a) the number of claims received in (i) 1999 and (ii) 2000, (b) the number which went to appeal in (i) 1999 and (ii) 2000, and the number which were turned down, (c) the number which went to tribunal in (i) 1999 and (ii) 2000 and in each year how many were turned down and (d) the
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average time it took for a decision to be taken (i) initially, (ii) on appeal and (iii) on further appeal to the tribunal in (A) 1999 and (B) 2000. [157983]
Mr. Bayley: The available information is in the tables.
| 1999 | 2000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Claims received | 390,919 | 405,831 |
| Reviews(48) | ||
| Number received | 307,903 | 263,840 |
| All decisions | 278,365 | 303,874 |
| Successful(49) | 91,994 | 122,632 |
| Successful as percentage of all decisions | 33 | 40 |
| Appeals(50) | ||
| Number received | 49,166 | 104,578 |
| All decisions | 49,857 | 57,522 |
| Successful(49) | 24,051 | 27,159 |
| Successful as percentage of all decisions | 48 | 47 |
(48) Figures include reconsiderations and supersessions under the new system of decision making and appeals introduced in October 1999.
(49) Figures relate both to cases where benefit is awarded and cases where the value of an award is increased.
(50) Figures relate to cases at appeal tribunals.
Source:
DSS Information Centre: 100 per cent. data.
| Year(51) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Type of decision | 1998-99 | 1999-2000 | 2000-01 |
| New Claims (normal rules) | 35.00 | 42.60 | 46.80 |
| Reviews | 49.70 | 64.30 | -- |
| Reconsiderations(52) | -- | 55.40 | 46.70 |
| Supersessions(52) | -- | 67.50 | 58.20 |
| Appeals | 36.10 | 52.70 | 55.60 |
(51) The BA does not routinely collate figures by calendar year.
(52) Reconsiderations and supersessions were introduced in October 1999 under a new system of decision making and appeals.
Source:
BA Disability and Carer Benefits Directorate.
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