The Student Room Group
Uni students - Complete our survey >>
Uni students - Complete our survey >>
Uni students - Complete our survey >>

Government hires extra judges to tackle welfare appeal backlog.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/8919628/Government-hires-extra-judges-to-tackle-welfare-appeal-backlog.html

Just some news fresh-in. Any opinions?
Reply 1
Avatar for Mr_Deeds
Mr_Deeds
13
So we're paying 94 judges the combined sum of £9,494,000, plus the other astronomical costs involved in running a court, to hear appeals concerning someone's entitlement to £50 a week? Congratulations, DWP, another expensive hammer to crack a very small nut. :rolleyes:
Reply 2
Avatar for viffer
viffer
16
Original post by Mr_Deeds
So we're paying 94 judges the combined sum of £9,494,000, plus the other astronomical costs involved in running a court, to hear appeals concerning someone's entitlement to £50 a week? Congratulations, DWP, another expensive hammer to crack a very small nut. :rolleyes:


Could pay for itself quite quickly potentially

http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showpost.php?p=34992020&postcount=59
Original post by Mr_Deeds
So we're paying 94 judges the combined sum of £9,494,000, plus the other astronomical costs involved in running a court, to hear appeals concerning someone's entitlement to £50 a week? Congratulations, DWP, another expensive hammer to crack a very small nut. :rolleyes:


Actually we aren't. 10 of these appointments are full time salaried jobs. The other 84 are part time fee paid judges, most of whom sit for only about 20-30 days a year. All of the press reports referred to the salaries as being "pro rata" without explaining why.

They will normally handle about 10-12 cases a day. Someone on the high rate of the Mobility Component and Middle Rate of the Care Component of DLA receives about £100 a week or £5200 a year. Therefore a single days sitting is probably about between £30,000 and £60,000 a year for which the three tribunal members will be paid about £1100.
Reply 4
Avatar for Mr_Deeds
Mr_Deeds
13
Original post by nulli tertius
Actually we aren't. 10 of these appointments are full time salaried jobs. The other 84 are part time fee paid judges, most of whom sit for only about 20-30 days a year. All of the press reports referred to the salaries as being "pro rata" without explaining why.

They will normally handle about 10-12 cases a day. Someone on the high rate of the Mobility Component and Middle Rate of the Care Component of DLA receives about £100 a week or £5200 a year. Therefore a single days sitting is probably about between £30,000 and £60,000 a year for which the three tribunal members will be paid about £1100.


Wow, that was a lot of math! It would also make a bit more financial sense. I do wonder, however, whether judges are the most appropriate people to be making such decisions.
Original post by Mr_Deeds
Wow, that was a lot of math! It would also make a bit more financial sense. I do wonder, however, whether judges are the most appropriate people to be making such decisions.


DLA is done by a lawyer, a doctor and someone with experience of disability.

ESA/Incapacity Benefit/Industrial Injuries is done by a lawyer and a doctor.

Non-medical stuff is decided solely by a lawyer.

Many years ago they did them without a lawyer or with a lawyer as clerk to three Lady Bountifuls. Ultimately it doesn't work. A tribunal has to be able to give legally justifiable reasons and unless you have a lawyer as chairman, you just don't get that.

The claimant goes to the tribunal and wants to talk about his ability to walk. Unless you get a lawyer as chairman, you will get a decision which says that the claimant is good for a 20 mile yomp but nothing else. The claimant then takes it to the local CAB and they appeal upwards on the basis that the decision failed to deal with his inability to cook a meal. Only lawyers write watertight decisions.

Quick Reply

Related discussions

Latest

Trending

Trending

Articles for you