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<p>The volume of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) appeals made to the tribunal
has built up since it was introduced as a new benefit in 2013. As the number, and
age, of appeals lodged increased so has the average waiting time.</p><p>Waiting times
generally can fluctuate temporarily and geographically, owing to a number of variable
factors, including volumes of benefit decisions made locally, availability of medical/disability
members, and venue capacity. Any disparity in waiting times is monitored and investigated
locally.</p><p>HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has been working with the
tribunal’s judiciary to identify initiatives with potential to increase the capacity
and performance of the tribunal, including reviewing current listing practices to
increase the number of PIP cases being able to be listed on a session. We are also
in the process of recruiting over 350 judicial office holders to provide long term
capacity in the tribunal.</p><p><ins class="ministerial">The average waiting time
for PIP appeals in each of the last four years, in the Alyn and Deeside constituency,
is set out below.</ins></p><table><tbody><tr><td colspan="2"><p><strong> </strong>
<ins class="ministerial"><strong>The average time (weeks<strong>[1]</strong>) from
receipt in HMCTS to outcome for PIP<strong>[2]</strong> Appeals </strong></ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins
class="ministerial"><strong>Year<sup>3</sup></strong></ins></p></td><td><p><ins class="ministerial"><strong>Alyn
and Deeside</strong>4</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">2013/145</ins></p></td><td><p><ins
class="ministerial">9.8</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">2014/15</ins></p></td><td><p><ins
class="ministerial">12.5</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">2015/16</ins></p></td><td><p><ins
class="ministerial">17</ins></p></td></tr><tr><td><p><ins class="ministerial">2016/17</ins></p></td><td><p><ins
class="ministerial">17</ins></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p><ins class="ministerial">
</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">[1] Average Clearance Time - time taken from
appeal receipt to outcome. This includes both those cleared at hearing and those cleared
without the need for a tribunal hearing.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial"><strong>2</strong>
Personal Independence Payments (New Claim Appeals), which replaced Disability Living
Allowance from 8 April 2013, also includes Personal Independence Claims (Reassessments).</ins></p><p><ins
class="ministerial">3 The table shows information in the financial year April to March.</ins></p><p><ins
class="ministerial">4 First-tier Tribunal (Social Security and Child Support) appeals
for Alyn and Deeside constituents are heard in the Chester venue.</ins></p><p><ins
class="ministerial">5 There were fewer than five PIP appeals disposed of at the Chester
venue in 2013/14 and as such the waiting time may not be representative of average
waiting time.</ins></p><p><ins class="ministerial">Although care is taken when processing
and analysing the data, the details are subject to inaccuracies inherent in any large-scale
case management system and are the best data available.</ins></p>
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