City MP criticises benefit system in Coventry after delays

The benefits system in Coventry is in “complete overload” according to a city MP, with new figures showing delays here are worse than the rest of the country.



Bob Ainsworth, MP for Coventry North East, has uncovered latest figures showing disability claimants in the city are waiting almost 50 per cent longer for appeals to be heard.

Claimants can appeal against a decision to take away their benefits but this process can leave disabled people without income for months while they wait for their case to be heard.

The figures have been published in response to a parliamentary question from Mr Ainsworth and concern the Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).

Those appealing a decision on ESA in the city wait an average of more than nine months for a verdict – compared to around six months for the rest of England.

“The system is in complete overload,” Mr Ainsworth said.

“The cause is the original decisions seem to be so bad and draconian. I can only think some instruction has gone out to turn people down systematically.

“People are waiting for money for months upon months and it is subsequently found they are entitled to it.

“Some will have friends and family to rely on, but many won’t. There is very real hardship being caused by these delays.”

The ESA provides financial help to those unable to work because of illness or disability. It also provides personalised support to those who are in some form of employment.

The figures for 2010/11 show 33 per cent of appeals against decisions to remove benefits from people in the city were upheld.

During the same year 39 per cent of Disability Living allowance appeals in the city were successful, 27 per cent of Income Support appeals and 20 per cent of Jobseekers Allowance appeals. Mr Ainsworth said the percentage of successful appeals shows the extent of the backlog.

Since these figures, hundreds more claimants are now appealing decisions after recent changes by the Department for Work and Pensions.

The Telegraph reported last month that benefit changes were one of the reasons Coventry’s Citizens Advice service was “buckling” under a hugely increased workload.

Every morning staff open the doors to scores of cash-strapped residents queueing down Little Park Street.

Mr Ainsworth added: “This has been going on for some time and getting progressively worse but I believed it was a national issue.

“The government must act now to increase capacity across the Tribunals Service and ensure waiting times in Coventry reach the national average.”

Claimants can appeal against a decision to take away their benefits but this process can leave disabled people without income for months while they wait for their case to be heard.

That's not entirely correct. Whilst waiting the result of an appeal they can apply for Jobseeker's Allowance (but won't necessarily get it) or "Reduced Rate Income Support". Few people know about the latter and the DWP is under no obligation to tell them about it either. It's an extremely small amount but qualifies recipients for other means-tested benefits such as rent and poll-tax releief.

Huge backlog for Coventry disability benefit appeals

COVENTRY residents appealing a decision to cut their disability benefit have to wait more than a year before their case is heard.

The average 55-week backlog has been revealed by city MP Bob Ainsworth who claims it is way above the national average.

The Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) provides either financial support for those unable to work, or personalised support to get people back to work.

It comes after the government paid Atos, a private contractor, £112 million a year to conduct “work capability assessments” on those claiming ESA.

Those judged able to work were taken off the benefit and given support to find jobs.

But last month an independent review for the government found only nine per cent of those deemed to be capable of working had obtained jobs 12 to 18 months later.

Charities and independent watchdogs have criticised the way the company has worked on the programme.

Now Mr Ainsworth, MP for Coventry North East, is demanding action to clear the appeals logjam at HM Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS) in the city.

He said: “These time scales are completely and utterly unreasonable, particularly when you are dealing with some of the most vulnerable people in society.

“In spite of all the ministerial assurances I have received that action is being taken to reduce waiting times in Coventry, it seems the opposite is true.

“Appeal waiting times are increasing rather than decreasing. This is an extremely worrying situation.”

HMCTS confirmed in a letter to Mr Ainsworth that appeals against a decision to cut the ESA lodged in October 2011 are only now being listed.

The Telegraph reported in July that the Ministry of Justice was investigating why ESA appeals in Coventry were taking on average 50 per cent longer than the rest of the England.

Back then the average wait in the city was nine months.

Last year’s figures showed 33 per cent of ESA appeals were eventually upheld.

Mr Ainsworth – who will stand down as Labour MP at the next general election – has written to justice minister Helen Grant.

He said: “I have written to ask what additional steps the government will take to tackle appeal waiting times in Coventry that are persistently higher than the national average and remain an intractable problem.

“It is clear that the government needs to do more to resolve the problems of an appeals system that appears to have reached breaking point.”

Coventry benefit appeals backlog labelled 'disgraceful' in House of Commons

THE one-year backlog for disability benefit appeals in Coventry has been labelled “disgraceful” in the House of Commons.

Bob Ainsworth, MP for Coventry North East, raised the issue with justice secretary Chris Grayling after the Telegraph reported the 55-week delay this week.

The tense exchanges in Parliament came after HM Courts and Tribunals Service admitted the wait for appeals to be heard over withdrawal of Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).

The benefit provides financial support for those unable to work, or personalised support to get people back to work.

The government paid private firm Atos £112 million a year to conduct “work capability assessments”.

Those judged able to work were taken off the benefit and given support to find jobs.

Mr Ainsworth – who will stand down as Labour MP at the next general election – said: “This wait is higher than the 37 weeks admitted by ministers and higher than the national average.

“What will be done to end that disgraceful state of affairs?

Chris Grayling responded: “The reality is that we are dealing with a very large number of cases.

“We are working hard to improve decision-making within Jobcentre Plus and have taken on board recommendations to improve the process.

“One challenge we face is that when we’re taking tough decisions on benefit entitlement, and when people are free to appeal, there will always be a propensity to do so.”

So cheap words but no plan of action!