Report criticises benefit errors

Society's most disadvantaged and vulnerable people could be facing hardship because of mistakes in benefit processing, says a report by MPs.

It is "astounding and unacceptable" according to the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee that one in five decisions about benefits contains errors.

Staff answering to the Department for Work and Pension make millions of decision a year about people's benefits.

Process

If they get them wrong, it can take months to be returned to the right payments, and some claimants don't ever find out that a mistake has been made.

The House of Commons Committee has highlighted Disability Living Allowance as a particular problem area, with an error rate of 50 per cent, leaving it up to the claimant to spot the problems and appeal.

"In very many cases the appeal tribunal decides that the person is actual eligible for the benefit," says Alan Barton

Alan Barton from Citizens Advice told Working Lunch:

"What we find happens is that in very many cases the appeal tribunal decides that the person is actual eligible for the benefit but by that time the person's been waiting several months for the tribunal to take place."

"During which time they'll have be without their Disability Living Allowance."

"In the case of many families who are living on benefits all together they will have had those benefits reduced because the fact that they get disability allowance may well qualify them for a premium in the other benefits."

What to do

Disability Living Allowance is paid to help with getting around and with care for those of working age who need assistance looking after themselves.

It's likely to be claimed for long periods of time so mistakes that aren't put right can have serious consequences.

Claimants are currently required to complete a 47-page form, although the department is now working on reducing the form size.

The level of errors not only means that some people will be wrongly denied benefit, but that others may be getting more than they should.

If you feel dissatisfied with the result of your claim you should contact your local Citizens Advice Bureaux.