{ "format" : "linked-data-api", "version" : "0.2", "result" : {"_about" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?answeringDeptSortName=Work+and+Pensions&hansardHeading=State+Retirement+Pensions%3A+Females&max-questionFirstAnswered.=2018-11-12T14%3A57%3A29.843Z&max-answer.dateOfAnswer=2018-11-12", "definition" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/meta/answeredquestions.text?answeringDeptSortName=Work+and+Pensions&hansardHeading=State+Retirement+Pensions%3A+Females&max-questionFirstAnswered.=2018-11-12T14%3A57%3A29.843Z&max-answer.dateOfAnswer=2018-11-12", "extendedMetadataVersion" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?answeringDeptSortName=Work+and+Pensions&_metadata=all&hansardHeading=State+Retirement+Pensions%3A+Females&max-questionFirstAnswered.=2018-11-12T14%3A57%3A29.843Z&max-answer.dateOfAnswer=2018-11-12", "first" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?_page=0&answeringDeptSortName=Work+and+Pensions&hansardHeading=State+Retirement+Pensions%3A+Females&max-questionFirstAnswered.=2018-11-12T14%3A57%3A29.843Z&max-answer.dateOfAnswer=2018-11-12", "hasPart" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?answeringDeptSortName=Work+and+Pensions&hansardHeading=State+Retirement+Pensions%3A+Females&max-questionFirstAnswered.=2018-11-12T14%3A57%3A29.843Z&max-answer.dateOfAnswer=2018-11-12", "isPartOf" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?answeringDeptSortName=Work+and+Pensions&hansardHeading=State+Retirement+Pensions%3A+Females&max-questionFirstAnswered.=2018-11-12T14%3A57%3A29.843Z&max-answer.dateOfAnswer=2018-11-12", "items" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1000268", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/1000268/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

Individual departments have set up complaints procedures. That approach has not changed under Labour 1997-2010 or successive governments. The DWP has a two tier complaints process which considers formal complaints about our service. <\/strong>Once a complainant has exhausted the DWP complaint process they are signposted to the Independent Case Examiner\u2019s Office if they are dissatisfied with the final response to their complaint.<\/p>

The Independent Case Examiner is independent, and discusses complaints. The Independent Case Examiner is appointed under contract to adjudicate on escalated complaints about the DWP, and its contracted service providers, in cases where the complainant has exhausted the relevant internal complaints process and remains dissatisfied. If a complainant is dissatisfied with the outcome of an I Independent Case Examiner investigation (or the service provided by the Independent Case Examiner) they can ask their Member of Parliament to escalate their complaint to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.<\/p>

The table below provides details of the number of complaints concerning the equalisation of women\u2019s state pension age, that have been (a) received; (b) accepted for investigation and (c) resolved by the Independent Case Examiner in each month since January 2017 (we have interpreted (c) as a request for the number of concluded complaint examinations).<\/p>

At the end of October 2018, there were 865 such cases awaiting a decision on whether the complaint could be accepted for investigation, which explains the drop in the number of cases accepted for investigation since April 2018.<\/p>

<\/p>

Month<\/p><\/td>

Complaints received<\/p><\/td>

Complaints accepted for investigation<\/p><\/td>

Concluded complaint examinations<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

January 2017<\/p><\/td>

2<\/p><\/td>

1<\/p><\/td>

0<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

February 2017<\/p><\/td>

26<\/p><\/td>

5<\/p><\/td>

0<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

March 2017<\/p><\/td>

211<\/p><\/td>

187<\/p><\/td>

0<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

April 2017<\/p><\/td>

172<\/p><\/td>

157<\/p><\/td>

0<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

May 2017<\/p><\/td>

171<\/p><\/td>

148<\/p><\/td>

0<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

June 2017<\/p><\/td>

144<\/p><\/td>

124<\/p><\/td>

1<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

July 2017<\/p><\/td>

222<\/p><\/td>

185<\/p><\/td>

0<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

August 2017<\/p><\/td>

290<\/p><\/td>

243<\/p><\/td>

0<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

September 2017<\/p><\/td>

297<\/p><\/td>

232<\/p><\/td>

0<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

October 2017<\/p><\/td>

418<\/p><\/td>

338<\/p><\/td>

3<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

November 2017<\/p><\/td>

320<\/p><\/td>

265<\/p><\/td>

6<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

December 2017<\/p><\/td>

222<\/p><\/td>

177<\/p><\/td>

4<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

January 2018<\/p><\/td>

314<\/p><\/td>

254<\/p><\/td>

11<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

February 2018<\/p><\/td>

240<\/p><\/td>

210<\/p><\/td>

28<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

March 2018<\/p><\/td>

171<\/p><\/td>

132<\/p><\/td>

16<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

April 2018<\/p><\/td>

196<\/p><\/td>

2<\/p><\/td>

11<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

May 2018<\/p><\/td>

159<\/p><\/td>

2<\/p><\/td>

15<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

June 2018<\/p><\/td>

147<\/p><\/td>

2<\/p><\/td>

30<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

July 2018<\/p><\/td>

131<\/p><\/td>

0<\/p><\/td>

13<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

August 2018<\/p><\/td>

108<\/p><\/td>

5<\/p><\/td>

14<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

September 2018<\/p><\/td>

101<\/p><\/td>

1<\/p><\/td>

15<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

October 2018<\/p><\/td>

119<\/p><\/td>

0<\/p><\/td>

14<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>

<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4142", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Guy Opperman"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hexham"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Guy Opperman"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-11-12", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-11-12T14:57:29.843Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-11-02", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "State Retirement Pensions: Females"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 1 November 2018 to Question 185131 on Independent Case Examiner, if she will publish that same information for complaints by women on the equalisation of the state pension age.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4672", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Ged Killen"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Rutherglen and Hamilton West"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Ged Killen"} ], "uin" : "187381"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/984775", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/984775/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

The Independent Case Examiner is independent. All final investigation reports issued by the Independent Case Examiner explain that if the complainant is dissatisfied with the outcome of the investigation into their complaint, they can ask their Member of Parliament to escalate the matter to the Parliamentary Ombudsman. Decisions on whether a referral is made to the Parliamentary Ombudsman rest with the relevant Member of Parliament.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4142", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Guy Opperman"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hexham"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Guy Opperman"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-10-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-10-15T16:51:04.17Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-10-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "State Retirement Pensions: Females"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what the criteria are for determining which WASPI cases submitted to the Independent Case Examiner are referred to the Parliamentary Ombudsman; and who makes the final decision on which cases are referred.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4453", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Tommy Sheppard"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Edinburgh East"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Tommy Sheppard"} ], "uin" : "177760"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/984776", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/984776/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

The table below details the number of complaint examinations concluded by the Independent Case Examiner\u2019s Office in relation to the Department for Work and Pensions and its service providers, in each month since January 2017.<\/p>

<\/p>

The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) has agreed to write to the Hon. Member with the information requested.<\/p>

<\/p>

Month<\/p><\/td>

Complaint Examinations Concluded by Independent Case Examiner\u2019s Office<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

January 2017<\/p><\/td>

73<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

February 2017<\/p><\/td>

71<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

March 2017<\/p><\/td>

115<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

April 2017<\/p><\/td>

57<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

May 2017<\/p><\/td>

84<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

June 2017<\/p><\/td>

85<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

July 2017<\/p><\/td>

83<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

August 2017<\/p><\/td>

69<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

September 2017<\/p><\/td>

71<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

October 2017<\/p><\/td>

81<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

November 2017<\/p><\/td>

76<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

December 2017<\/p><\/td>

65<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

January 2018<\/p><\/td>

85<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

February 2018<\/p><\/td>

82<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

March 2018<\/p><\/td>

83<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

April 2018<\/p><\/td>

74<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

May 2018<\/p><\/td>

87<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

June 2018<\/p><\/td>

108<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

July 2018<\/p><\/td>

91<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

August 2018<\/p><\/td>

104<\/p><\/td><\/tr>

September 2018<\/p><\/td>

91<\/p><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>

<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4142", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Guy Opperman"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hexham"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Guy Opperman"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-10-15", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-10-15T16:51:53.68Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-10-10", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "State Retirement Pensions: Females"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many cases relating to her Department have been considered by the (a) Independent Case Examiner and (b) Parliamentary Ombudsman in each month since January 2017.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4453", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Tommy Sheppard"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Edinburgh East"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Tommy Sheppard"} ], "uin" : "177761"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/984449", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/984449/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

As of the 10 October 2018, the Independent Case Examiner\u2019s Office had received 4,085 complaints from women born in the 1950s concerning changes to State Pension age.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4142", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Guy Opperman"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hexham"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Guy Opperman"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-10-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-10-17T14:38:08.67Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-10-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "State Retirement Pensions: Females"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many complaints on pensions have been received from women born in the 1950s.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4056", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Nic Dakin"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Scunthorpe"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Nic Dakin"} ], "uin" : "177288"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/984450", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/984450/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

As of the 10 October 2018, 172 investigations have been concluded and decisions then communicated by the Independent Case Examiner, into complaints from women born in the 1950s concerning change to State Pension age.<\/p>

<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4142", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Guy Opperman"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hexham"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Guy Opperman"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-10-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-10-17T14:33:32.6Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-10-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "State Retirement Pensions: Females"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many complaints from women born in the 1950s have had a final decision communicated to such women.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4056", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Nic Dakin"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Scunthorpe"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Nic Dakin"} ], "uin" : "177289"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/984452", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/984452/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

As of 10th<\/sup> October 2018, there were 780 complaints received by the Independent Case Examiner\u2019s Office from women born in the 1950s concerning change to State Pension age, which are awaiting checks to establish whether they can be accepted for examination.<\/p>

<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4142", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Guy Opperman"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hexham"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Guy Opperman"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-10-17", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-10-17T14:40:59.763Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-10-09", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "State Retirement Pensions: Females"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many complaints on pensions from women born in the 1950s are waiting to be processed to a complaint agreement.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4056", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Nic Dakin"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Scunthorpe"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Nic Dakin"} ], "uin" : "177290"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/982928", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/982928/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

The Independent Case Examiner is independent, and disusses complaints. The ICE is appointed under contract to adjudicate on escalated complaints about the DWP, and its contracted service providers, in cases where the complainant has exhausted the relevant internal complaints process and remains dissatisfied. If a complainant is dissatisfied with the outcome of an Independent Case Examiner investigation (or the service provided by the Independent Case Examiner) they can ask their Member of Parliament to escalate their complaint to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman.<\/p>

<\/p>

The Independent Case Examiner aims to complete any investigation within 20 weeks of starting work on a case. The Independent Case Examiner reports related to legislative changes to State Pension age for women that have been concluded to date have been completed within an average of 9.75 weeks. To date, the Independent Case Examiner had not upheld any case specific complaints that the DWP failed to provide adequate and timely information relating to the increase in State Pension age. All final Independent Case Examiner reports explain how the complainant can escalate their complaint to the Parliamentary Ombudsman\u2019s Office. The Parliamentary Health and Service Ombudsman make final decisions on complaints that have not been resolved by UK Government Departments. This was set up in 1967.<\/p>

<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4142", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Guy Opperman"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hexham"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Guy Opperman"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-10-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-10-11T14:55:37.287Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-10-08", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "State Retirement Pensions: Females"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 10 September 2018 to Question 169417 on State Retirement Pensions: Females, for what reason she has not met with representatives of the WASPI campaign to discuss the time taken for complaints raised by women affected by measures taken to equalise the state pension age to be dealt with by her Department.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4612", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Jamie Stone"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Jamie Stone"} ], "uin" : "176557"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/973347", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/973347/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

The approach of successive governments has been consistent. The Independent Case Examiner is independent. She is appointed under contract to adjudicate on escalated complaints about the DWP, and its contracted service providers, in cases where the complainant has exhausted the relevant internal complaints process and remains dissatisfied. If a complainant is dissatisfied with the outcome of an Independent Case Examiner investigation (or the service provided by the Independent Case Examiner) they can ask their Member of Parliament to escalate their complaint to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman<\/p>

Ministers have no role in assessing the efficacy of the Independent Case Examiner in investigating complaints from women affected by State Pension age equalisation measures.<\/p>

<\/p>

The Independent Case Examiner resources are reviewed on an annual basis. Since October 2017, the Independent Case Examiner has experienced increased levels of referrals associated with legislative changes to State Pension age for women. The Independent Case Examiner responded by dedicating a team of three investigation case managers.<\/p>

<\/p>

The Independent Case Examiner aims to complete any investigation within 20 weeks of starting work on a case. The Independent Case Examiner reports related to legislative changes to State Pension age for women that have been concluded to date have been completed within an average of 9.75 weeks. To date, the Independent Case Examiner had not upheld any case specific complaints that the DWP failed to provide adequate and timely information relating to the increase in State Pension age. All final Independent Case Examiner reports explain how the complainant can escalate their complaint to the Parliamentary Ombudsman\u2019s Office. The Parliamentary Health and Service Ombudsman make final decisions on complaints that have not been resolved by UK Government Departments. This was set up in 1967 under the then Labour Government.<\/p>

<\/p>

<\/strong><\/p>

<\/strong><\/p>

<\/strong><\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4142", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Guy Opperman"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hexham"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Guy Opperman"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-10-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "174840"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "previousAnswerVersion" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/973347/answer/previousversion/77326", "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4142", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Guy Opperman"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hexham"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Guy Opperman"} } , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-10-11T12:15:24.187Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-09-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "State Retirement Pensions: Females"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the efficacy of the Independent Case Examiner in investigating complaints from women affected by state pension age equalisation measures.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4634", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Christine Jardine"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Edinburgh West"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Christine Jardine"} ], "uin" : "174839"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/973350", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/973350/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

The approach of successive governments has been consistent. The Independent Case Examiner is independent. She is appointed under contract to adjudicate on escalated complaints about the DWP, and its contracted service providers, in cases where the complainant has exhausted the relevant internal complaints process and remains dissatisfied. If a complainant is dissatisfied with the outcome of an Independent Case Examiner investigation (or the service provided by the Independent Case Examiner) they can ask their Member of Parliament to escalate their complaint to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman<\/p>

Ministers have no role in assessing the efficacy of the Independent Case Examiner in investigating complaints from women affected by State Pension age equalisation measures.<\/p>

<\/p>

The Independent Case Examiner resources are reviewed on an annual basis. Since October 2017, the Independent Case Examiner has experienced increased levels of referrals associated with legislative changes to State Pension age for women. The Independent Case Examiner responded by dedicating a team of three investigation case managers.<\/p>

<\/p>

The Independent Case Examiner aims to complete any investigation within 20 weeks of starting work on a case. The Independent Case Examiner reports related to legislative changes to State Pension age for women that have been concluded to date have been completed within an average of 9.75 weeks. To date, the Independent Case Examiner had not upheld any case specific complaints that the DWP failed to provide adequate and timely information relating to the increase in State Pension age. All final Independent Case Examiner reports explain how the complainant can escalate their complaint to the Parliamentary Ombudsman\u2019s Office. The Parliamentary Health and Service Ombudsman make final decisions on complaints that have not been resolved by UK Government Departments. This was set up in 1967 under the then Labour Government.<\/p>

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<\/strong><\/p>

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<\/strong><\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4142", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Guy Opperman"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hexham"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Guy Opperman"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-10-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "groupedQuestionUIN" : {"_value" : "174839"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "previousAnswerVersion" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/973350/answer/previousversion/77327", "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4142", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Guy Opperman"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hexham"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Guy Opperman"} } , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-10-11T12:15:24.267Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-09-13", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "State Retirement Pensions: Females"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment she has made of the Independent Case Examiner's progress in dealing with complaints made by women affected by the state pension age equalisation measures.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4634", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Christine Jardine"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Edinburgh West"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Christine Jardine"} ], "uin" : "174840"} , {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/971651", "AnsweringBody" : [{"_value" : "Department for Work and Pensions"} ], "answer" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/resources/971651/answer", "answerText" : {"_value" : "

We have interpreted this as a request for information about the total number of live complaints currently being considered by the Independent Case Examiner\u2019s Office, from women born in the 1950s regarding changes to State Pension age. As at the 11 September 2018, the Independent Case Examiner\u2019s Office had 3,214 such complaints under consideration, at various stages of its process.<\/p>"} , "answeringMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4142", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Guy Opperman"} } , "answeringMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Hexham"} , "answeringMemberPrinted" : {"_value" : "Guy Opperman"} , "dateOfAnswer" : {"_value" : "2018-09-19", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "isMinisterialCorrection" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "questionFirstAnswered" : [{"_value" : "2018-09-19T10:01:12.217Z", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} ]} , "answeringDeptId" : {"_value" : "29"} , "answeringDeptShortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "answeringDeptSortName" : {"_value" : "Work and Pensions"} , "date" : {"_value" : "2018-09-11", "_datatype" : "dateTime"} , "hansardHeading" : {"_value" : "State Retirement Pensions: Females"} , "houseId" : {"_value" : "1"} , "legislature" : [{"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/terms/25259", "prefLabel" : {"_value" : "House of Commons"} } ], "questionText" : "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many complaints from women born in the 1950s are being considered by the Independent Case Examiner.", "registeredInterest" : {"_value" : "false", "_datatype" : "boolean"} , "tablingMember" : {"_about" : "http://data.parliament.uk/members/4056", "label" : {"_value" : "Biography information for Nic Dakin"} } , "tablingMemberConstituency" : {"_value" : "Scunthorpe"} , "tablingMemberPrinted" : [{"_value" : "Nic Dakin"} ], "uin" : "173575"} ], "itemsPerPage" : 10, "next" : "http://eldaddp.azurewebsites.net/answeredquestions.text?_page=1&answeringDeptSortName=Work+and+Pensions&hansardHeading=State+Retirement+Pensions%3A+Females&max-questionFirstAnswered.=2018-11-12T14%3A57%3A29.843Z&max-answer.dateOfAnswer=2018-11-12", "page" : 0, "startIndex" : 1, "totalResults" : 191, "type" : ["http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#ListEndpoint", "http://purl.org/linked-data/api/vocab#Page"]} }