Disability appeal costs 'trebled'

The cost to the taxpayer of dealing with appeals against disability benefit refusals in tribunals has more than trebled to £66 million over four years, Justice Minister Helen Grant has revealed.

Shadow work and pensions secretary Liam Byrne urged the Government to stop wasting taxpayers' money after uncovering figures which showed the estimated cost of tribunals hearing employment and support allowance (ESA) appeals rose from £21 million in 2009/10 to £66 million in 2012/13.%VIRTUAL-SkimlinksPromo%