Disability Allowance applicants are facing a long delay in having their application processed. Constituents have contacted me as they have been waiting weeks since applying for Disability Allowance. Applicants are unable to work and are facing the added stress of delays in payments being approved.

Following my enquiries, it emerged that the office was processing applications received 14 weeks previously. This delay is probably the result of the poor resources available to a limited number of staff.

The Government does not seem to realise that lives are affected by this backlog. This is typical of the dysfunction that has become evident in the Department of Social Protection. Between delays in illness benefit payments and delays in the contributory pension review, it appears that the Government is not properly resourcing the Department and this has to change.