Social Protection | Comparison of waiting times for payments in respect of means-tested applications and contribution related payments

To ask the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which waiting times for payments in respect of means-tested applications compare with contribution related payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

REPLY

My Department reports on targets agreed between the Management Board and relevant scheme areas on a scheme by scheme basis and not on the basis of processing times for means tested schemes compared to those for contributory based schemes.  

Some schemes such as long-term illness related schemes require a high level of documentary evidence from the customer resulting in longer processing times while other schemes may not require the same level of documentation and can be processed in a shorter time span. For this reason all scheme specific eligibility criteria is taken into account when establishing each schemes processing target. This being the case, a comparison between processing times for means tested schemes versus contributory schemes is of little value.

On a monthly basis, each schemes actual processing is compared to their target. In addition we look at the average number of weeks it takes award a new application. Any variance is then investigated and corrective action taken where required.

My Department strives to ensure that all claims are processed as quickly and efficiently as possible and customer service is maintained at a high level.  I am pleased to report that the majority of schemes are meeting targets at present.

Processing times for the main scheme areas are as follows at end of December 2022:

Scheme	Target Set	% Achieved     December 2022	Average weeks to award         December 2022
Contribution based Schemes
State Pension Contributory	90%  by date of entitlement	95%	6
Widow(er)’s Contributory Pension	90% in 6 weeks	95%	1
Jobseeker’s Benefit	90% in 3 weeks	96%	1
Maternity Benefit	90% by due date	93%	6
Paternity Benefit	90% by commencement of leave	94%	6
Parents Benefit	90% by commencement of leave	86%	1
Illness Benefit	90% in 1 week	95%	1
Carer’s Benefit	90% in 12 weeks	Not Available	6
Invalidity Pension	90% in 10 weeks	90%	8
Occupational Injury Benefit	90% in 1 week	58%	1
Means Tested Based Schemes
State Pension (Non-Contributory)	75% in 12 weeks	87%	6
Jobseeker’s Allowance	90% in 6 weeks	97%	1
One-Parent Family Payment	90% in 10 weeks	96%	3
Working Family Payment	90% in 6 weeks	–	5
Supplementary Welfare Allowance	90% in 1 week	85%	1
Disability Allowance	75% in 10 weeks	83%	8
Carer’s Allowance	75% in 11 Weeks	87%	7

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.