Source · Select Committees · Work and Pensions Committee
Recommendation 19
19
Accepted
Paragraph: 91
DWP has introduced changes to the Mandatory Reconsideration process that it says make it a...
Recommendation
DWP has introduced changes to the Mandatory Reconsideration process that it says make it a more effective check on decision-making. A worryingly high number and proportion of appeals still result in the Department’s decision being overturned, with implications for wider trust in the system beyond those directly affected. The Department does not provide any data on Mandatory Reconsideration decisions for UC WCAs. Without this, we cannot know whether Mandatory Reconsideration is functioning effectively for one of the largest groups of claimants that rely on it. We recognise the Government has announced it intends to scrap WCAs, but they will remain in use for several years. When the Government begins to publish data on UC WCAs from June 2023, it must also include data on Mandatory Reconsiderations. DWP should also work with HM Courts and Tribunal Service to ensure it has an accurate understanding of the scale of disability-related UC Tribunals as part of the wider Tribunal Service caseload.
Government Response Summary
The Department will publish the first set of UC WCA statistics, covering April 2019 to March 2023, on 8 June 2023, with future releases including data on Mandatory Reconsiderations.
Paragraph Reference:
91
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
On 8 February 2023 the Department announced its intention to publish the first set of UC WCA statistics, covering April 2019 to March 2023, on 8 June 2023. This new quarterly experimental statistical series will be developed in line with the Code of Practice for Statistics and users will be kept informed through the DWP Statistical Work Programme. Alongside this announcement the Department published details on what it plans to include in the publication to give users an opportunity to engage on the development of this release in line with its User Engagement Strategy. Future releases of the publication will include data on Mandatory Reconsiderations.