Benefit claimants are being forced to wait more than three months for reviews as a backlog continues. Departmental data from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) shows the time for reconsideration on benefit decisions rose to 71 working days in 2024.
The figures show it has more than doubled between December 2023 and July 2024. With weekends factored in, this is a wait of 99 days on average, the DWP data shows with benefits claimants suffering amid the Cost of Living crisis.
DWP minister Sir Stephen Timms has now told MPs that the department is aiming to address the backlog of claims by March 2025. “This reflects the overarching policy that the focus should be on making the right decision and not the speed of clearance,” he said.
READ MORE Final date snow will hit UK this winter announced and it’s not far away
“Decisions should always be made without delay, but if the decision maker considers that more time is needed to gather or consider evidence, then they will give themselves that time to ensure they are confident that the decision made is correct.”
But the Labour Party MP did not give a target average timeframe for delays to be processed, saying there is “no time limit.” Rachael Walker, research director at Policy in Practice said: “It is essential that the government bring mandatory reconsideration processing times down – the longer mandatory reconsiderations take, the longer people are missing out on financial support they need and have a right to claim.”
“While the government technically has no limit on these processing times, it is the personal cost to claimants that should be the focus of their responsibility when aiming to reduce backlogs – claimants who themselves are subject to strict time limits as part of the MR process.”
“The wider issue here is the number of MRs we see in benefits – using data and systems more proactively can help reduce error and rejection, as can giving people the tools and the support they need to claim in the first place,” she added.
A DWP spokesperson said: “The focus of Mandatory Reconsideration is to ensure the right decision is reached, and we are clearing the backlog as well as recruiting additional staff to meet our aim of making decisions without delay.
“Reconsideration is a key element of the department’s decision-making process, and offers customers an opportunity to challenge decisions and provide any additional information which may be relevant to their claim.”