I've recently lodged a PIP appeal with HMCTS and have a few questions about average waiting times.
Assuming all the necessary information has been provided by the claimant, generally how long does it take for HMCTS to process the application and pass on the appeal info to the DWP? Secondly, how common is it for the DWP to request an extension on the 28 day response rule?
Our advice at the moment is for claimants to have any submission and additional evidence ready to send to the Tribunal Service within three weeks of the date on the letter accompanying the DWP evidence "packet".
Whilst there are undoubtedly some variations across the country, most appeals are now being held to the guide timescales and it is unlikely that any allowance will be made for claimants who fail to meet these times.
I would expect the DWP to receive and to start processing an appeal in no more than 10 working days, the major delay is how long it takes these things to get through their internal mail system.
Whilst it may happen, I am not aware of the DWP ever requesting an extension to the one month that they have to prepare and submit their case, to be honest it is usually only a couple of hours work as they use template letters and documents, it may happen for complicated cases, but very few appeals would come under this heading
Gordon
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