PIP Tribunal, no DWP agent present?

[BettyBakesCakes]

Is it normal for the DWP not to turn up to defend their case at a PIP Tribunal?

They rarely send a representative. I have been to a few tribunals and there has never been a DWP rep there.

Oh wow really, why? I've assumed they knew they would lose so don't want to waste their time 🤣

I've had two E&SA ones and it was a GP and magistrate each time: no one from the DWP.

Very normal

The number of tribunals they would have to attend, it's very unlikely they would have enough representatives to attend.

Been common for years and a source of complaint/concern to those with oversight of the system. Every few years DWP promise to up their game but then fall back again.

I've been to something around 20-25 tribunals, and the only time they sent a rep was an appeal about an overpayment. We weren't disputing that the client had been overpaid, but the amount they claimed was far more than it should have been. The DWP rep went through the figures and conceded I was right.

What a waste of money that was.

The rest of my appeals have all been PIP or capability for work challenges, and they've never, ever sent someone.