| answer text |
<p>Face to face hearings have recommenced in the First-tier Tribunal (Social Security
and Child Support) (SSCS).</p><p> </p><p>Throughout the pandemic, appeals continued
to be decided on the papers, or heard using telephone, and other remote technology.
HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has also now introduced safety measures
so that face to face hearings can be held for any cases which cannot be decided on
the papers or heard remotely.</p><p> </p><p>The decision as to how a hearing is conducted
is a matter for the judge, who will determine how best to uphold the interests of
justice.</p><p> </p><p>Information about the number of SSCS appeals waiting to be
listed is not currently available: data issues have been identified as the Tribunal
was being migrated to a new operational system. The data will be available as soon
as this is resolved and the data quality assured.</p><p> </p><p>The average waiting
time for a hearing to be scheduled is not held centrally: HMCTS statistics are not
calculated from receipt of the appeal to the hearing, but from receipt of the appeal
to the disposal of the case. An appeal is not necessarily disposed of at its first
hearing. The final disposal decision on the appeal may be reached after an earlier
hearing had been adjourned (which may be directed by the judge for a variety of reasons
such as to seek further evidence), or after an earlier hearing date had been postponed
(again, for a variety of reasons, often at the request of the appellant). An appeal
may also have been decided at an earlier date by the First-tier Tribunal, only for
the case to have gone on to the Upper Tribunal, to be returned once again to the First-tier,
for its final disposal.</p>
|
|
