EXCLUSIVE: Just 1,790 out of 9,010 ESA and PIP tribunal hearings in September had a DWP “presenting officer”

Labour MP Justin Madders said: “The system needs a radical overhaul”

Government officials failed to turn up at four out of five welfare appeal hearings in a single month, according to shock figures seen by the Mirror. A “presenting officer” represented the Department of Work and Pensions at just 1,790 out of 9,010 “first-tier tribunal” hearings against decisions over on employment support allowance and personal independence payments in September – some 19.8%.

That was a drop from a third in January 2018, according to stats revealed to MPs. Figures from other months show a continuing plunge in the number of appeals where the Government is represented in person throughout last year.

Shadow Health Minister Justin Madders said: “It is a disgrace that in the majority of cases the DWP cannot even be bothered to…