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<p>The First-tier Tribunal (Social Security and Child Support), administered by HM
Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS), hears appeals against Department for Work
and Pensions’ (DWP) decisions on a range of benefits.</p><p> </p><p>HMCTS does not
record data specifically relating to appeals against sanctions imposed by DWP.</p><p><strong>
</strong></p><p>In order to increase the capacity of the Tribunal, and therefore speed
up the appeals process, HMCTS has recruited extra judges and medical members, increased
venue capacity and introduced more efficient processes. This action, coupled with
a reduction in appeal receipts, has enabled HMCTS to reduce the overall average length
of time to administer appeals from 28 weeks in the period July to September 2014,
to 19 weeks for the same period in 2015 (the latest period for which statistics have
been published). The median length of time to administer appeals (which will be the
experience of the majority of appellants) has reduced from 18 weeks to 14 weeks in
the same period.</p><p> </p><p>Information on the length of time taken to administer
appeals generally is published by the Ministry of Justice in Tribunal Statistics Quarterly.
The most recent report, for the period July to September 2015, published on 10 December
2015, can be viewed at:</p><p><a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/tribunals-and-gender-recognition-certificate-statistics-quarterly-july-to-september-2015"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/tribunals-and-gender-recognition-certificate-statistics-quarterly-july-to-september-2015</a></p>
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