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<p>HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has been working with the tribunal judiciary
both to appoint additional judges and panel members and to list more Personal Independence
Payment (PIP) appeals into each tribunal session.</p><p> </p><p>For example, the Social
Security and Child Support tribunal has recruited extra fee-paid judicial office holders:
250 judges across the First-tier Tribunal, 125 disability qualified members and up
to 230 medical members. In addition, we are listing more PIP appeals per session and
have introduced case-management “triage” sessions, with the aim of reducing the time
taken for appeals to reach final determination. All these measures will increase the
capacity of the tribunal, with the aim of reducing waiting times for appellants.</p><p>
</p><p>We are also developing a new digital system with a view to enabling speedier
processing of appeals and a better service for all parties to the proceedings. Information
on the new digital service can be found at www.gov.uk/government/news/new-online-service-launched-for-pip-appeals.
This service is now also live for Employment and Support Allowance appeals.</p><p>
</p><p>Finally, we are working with the Department for Work and Pensions to understand
what could be done to reduce the number of appeals being submitted to the Tribunal,
through their focus on improving decision-making and the mandatory reconsideration
process. Latest figures (to September 2018) indicate that since PIP was introduced,
3.7 million decisions have been made, and of these 10% have been appealed and 5% have
been overturned at tribunals.</p>
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