How Long Do I Wait for an Appeal Decision?

Hi i was placed in the WRAG and made my appeal as per your advice on 27th Feb 2012 i haven't heard a word ? Is this normal and how long should i expect to wait... I have called them about 3 months ago and they do have my appeal... but no answers.
I am feeling so stressed and i dread the postman every day but obviously i need to know i feel like my life is and has been on hold !
Has eneyone waited longer than this???
Is this really the way to tread people with disabilitys and mental health issues???
It's a total discrace !
Thanks

Movnor wrote:

Hi i was placed in the WRAG and made my appeal as per your advice on 27th Feb 2012 i haven't heard a word ? Is this normal and how long should i expect to wait... I have called them about 3 months ago and they do have my appeal... but no answers.
I am feeling so stressed and i dread the postman every day but obviously i need to know i feel like my life is and has been on hold !
Has eneyone waited longer than this???
Is this really the way to tread people with disabilitys and mental health issues???
It's a total discrace !
Thanks

Hi M,

Once you appeal, you will receive an automatic reconsideration of the WRAG award, this will be done by a different more senior DWP DM.

If the reconsideration does not change the decision in your favour, it will be sent forward to the Appeals Tribunal Service, and you should be informed of this.

At this time claimants are suffering huge delays when dealing with the DWP, so I am afraid that I can not provide a definitive answer to your question.

Many people are not even receiving recognition that their appeal has been received by The DWP.

bro58

I phoned today about my own appeal (submitted in April and not yet had reconsideration). I was phoned back by someone from the 'appeals department' who said that they have a target of 60 working days for dealing with appeals so she would escalate my case which must now be dealt with within 2 weeks. Very different from my last call, when I was told that cases would be looked at strictly in order of submission and there was no way of speeding things up.

It might be worth ringing again and ask for a call-back from someone more senior.

Hi thank you for your reply .I have had no contact whatsoever from anyone except when i called to see if they had recived it...
Should i assume that by hearing nothing i will be going to tribunal ?

Movnor wrote:

Should i assume that by hearing nothing i will be going to tribunal ?

No. You should hear the result of the reconsideration, whichever way it goes. You will either be notified of the new decision or told that the decsion stands and your case will be sent to tribunal.

Thanks for your info ..so will that mean that you have not had a reconsideration and will now be going to tribunal or have they just not even looked at it yet ??