Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what average length of time his Department takes to process applications for hardship payments; and what targets he has set for the processing of such claims.

The information requested is not available. Our expectation is that claimants who are vulnerable will receive a hardship payment, if appropriate, within 3 days of them requesting hardship. We have no targets for the processing of hardship applications.