DWP blasted as 'department in meltdown' with benefit review waits doubling

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has been hit with fierce criticism after reports revealed that Brits on certain benefits are facing nearly doubled waiting times over the past year. The respected Benefits and Work forum has blasted these developments as "evidence that the DWP is a department in meltdown," highlighting that claimants are now subject to extended delays for both applications and reviews.

Labour MP Stephen Timms acknowledged the issue, noting that those contesting benefit decisions through the "mandatory reconsideration" process are now waiting approximately two and a half months for a response from the DWP. This was brought to light following a written parliamentary question by independent MP Richard Burgon, who queried "whether her Department plans to take steps to reduce the clearance time," specifically for Personal Independence Payment reviews.

The disability minister conceded: "We recognise that the most recent data shows an increase in Mandatory Reconsideration clearance times, from 37 calendar days in December 2023 to 71 calendar days in July 2024. To address this, we are recruiting Mandatory Reconsideration Decision Makers and have made overtime available to increase productivity."

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The disability advocacy forum has expressed scepticism over the Department for Work and Pensions' (DWP) recent strategies, saying their success "remains to be seen."

This comes amid a surge in Pension Credit claims triggered by the Winter Fuel Payment rule change, alongside increasing delays in other benefit applications, reports the Manchester Evening News. Earlier this year, it was revealed that the DWP might need up to ten years to clear the full Personal Independence Payment (PIP) review backlog.

In September, Disability Minister Timms told MPs that the department is recruiting a significant number of health professionals "to ensure they have sufficient capacity to deliver the required volume of assessments" aimed at addressing the vast PIP review backlog.

Moreover, the DWP is vigorously pursuing the "managed migration" of 800,000 Employment Support Allowance recipients onto Universal Credit by the end of 2025. The move seeks to expedite efforts to streamline the department's escalating £250 billion benefits bill.

With these extensive reforms—designed by Labour to rectify the "£22 billion black hole,"—demanding extra resources, public entities like Citizens Advice have voiced concerns. Citizens Advice has warned: "Because the ESA migration timetable has been accelerated so quickly, we're concerned that DWP doesn't have the capacity to deliver this support adequately and at scale."

Citizens Advice has raised concerns about the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) staff levels, saying: "For example, whether DWP has enough staff to carry out all the home visits required," which they fear could result in vulnerable claimants being left behind during the Universal Credit transition. They also highlighted a lack of accountability, adding: "Because the ESJ isn't a legal process, there aren't formal mechanisms to hold the DWP accountable if people fall through the net."