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Social Entitlement Chamber

Answer

Data are not held centrally for analysis and reporting purposes on how many appeals in the First-tier Tribunal (Social Entitlement Chamber) (SSCS) which are outstanding and awaiting a hearing had a listing for a hearing, and those which did not; and the average waiting time between appeal lodgement and first listing of appeals.

Data on the total number of PIP, ESA and UC appeals outstanding and awaiting a hearing in SSCS in each month between July 2024 and March 2026 (the latest period for which data are available are set out in the table below:

Year	Month	Total open caseload(1),(2) awaiting a hearing(3)	ESA(4)	PIP(5)	UC
2024	July	55,742	2,125	35,974	9,891
	August	54,096	1,833	35,444	9,168
	September	54,227	1,786	35,563	9,159
	October	56,491	1,662	37,678	9,322
	November	55,806	1,538	37,785	8,729
	December	57,094	1,494	38,798	8,817
2025	January	57,830	1,526	39,748	8,626
	February	57,055	1,497	40,047	7,810
	March	56,901	1,450	40,214	7,688
	April	54,526	1,311	38,703	7,383
	May	55,063	1,321	39,176	7,670
	June	52,912	1,214	37,584	7,331
	July	53,933	1,159	38,457	7,445
	August	52,215	1,107	37,232	7,365
	September	51,745	1,012	37,071	7,280
	October	52,897	1,050	38,058	7,569
	November	52,962	1,022	38,349	7,592
	December	54,468	1,044	39,186	8,126
2026	January	57,716	1,156	40,884	9,224
	February	65,074	1,248	46,476	10,414
	March	67,525	1,237	47,495	11,246

1 In January 2026, a data quality issue was identified affecting open caseload for SSCS, with caseload being potentially over-reported by ~5k cases. This is currently being investigated.

2 The open caseload counts for SSCS reflects what is held on the database at the time of extraction. This means that the open caseload is not a simple summation of the previous month’s open caseload figures with receipts and disposals.

3 Includes cases which are ready to be listed or listed for hearing.

4 Data includes Employment and Support Allowance and Incapacity Benefit reassessment. Employment and Support Allowance was introduced in October 2018 and Incapacity Benefit reassessment followed in October 2010.

5 Personal Independence Payment (New Claim Appeals) which replaces Disability Living Allowance was introduced on 8 April 2013, also includes Personal Independence Claims (Reassessments).

Data on the average waiting time between appeal lodgement and final disposal for appeals in SSCS is published at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmcts-management-information

Data on the number of PIP, ESA and UC disposals, together with whether they were allowed or dismissed is published at Tribunals statistics - GOV.UK. Data on whether they were withdrawn or otherwise disposed of is set out in the table below:

Financial Year	Withdrawn(1)/Otherwise Disposed(2)	ESA(3)	PIP(4)	UC
2021/22	Withdrawn	343	1,939	753
	Other disposals.	853	22,046	3,770
2022/23	Withdrawn	406	2,151	1,004
	Other disposals	1,201	23,639	4,209
2023/24	Withdrawn	463	2,407	1,275
	Other disposals	1,560	29,021	6,112
2024/25	Withdrawn	672	2,704	1,635
	Other disposals	1,481	26,756	6,915
2025/26	Withdrawn	346	2,651	1,242
	Other disposals.	977	18,906	6,808

1 Withdrawn:withdrawn at hearing and appeals withdrawn prior to hearing

2 Other disposals: disposals lapsed, struck-out and other disposals.

3 Data includes Employment and Support Allowance and Incapacity Benefit reassessment. Employment and Support Allowance was introduced in October 2018 and Incapacity Benefit reassessment followed in October 2010.

4 Personal Independence Payment (New Claim Appeals) which replaces Disability Living Allowance was introduced on 8 April 2013, also includes Personal Independence Claims (Reassessments).

From April 2023, the SSCS Tribunal started to list cases using a new scheduling and listing solution. This, alongside HMCTS migrating to a new strategic data platform, has resulted in some cases heard and decided using this new listing solution not currently being included in the data above.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

15052

Session

2026-27

Grouped for answer

Yes

Subjects

Standards Social security benefits First-tier Tribunal Social Entitlement Chamber

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.parliament.uk