Department for Work and Pensions: Compensation
(asked on 16th January 2023) - View Source
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much his Department paid to claimants in payments related to gross inconvenience in (a) 2018, (b) 2019, (c) 2020, (d) 2021 and (e) 2022.
DWP can make a consolatory payment to a claimant in recognition for when gross inconvenience has been caused.
The table below shows the total amount spent on consolatory payments per calendar year (January to December) as requested.
Total consolatory payments by calendar year | |
Year | Amount Paid |
2018 | £323,446.33 |
2019 | £355,484.37 |
2020 | £342,901.82 |
2021 | £551,513.69 |
2022 | £580,016.18 |
*Please note: The figure for 2022 has not yet been finalised, as the figures are reported quarterly, therefore the 2022 figure above represents the first nine months only.
As a Department, DWP has continuously improved the complaints process and recognises the increase in the amount of consolatory payments paid is indicative of the departments complaints process better acknowledging when things haven’t gone as they should, and where appropriate to compensate the customer.