stats on short term benefit advances

Esther McVey has provided stats for period april to november 2013 in response to written question in parliament -

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201314/cmhansrd/cm140106/text/140106w0003.htm

Has anyone ever succeeded in obtaining a short term benefit advance for a client? I never have.

I have asked twice for an advance payment - for a new JSA claim and for a new ESA claim, both with delayed decisions for one reason or another.

In both cases JC+ offered to prioritise the claimants’ cases and benefit was paid later that day.

Reminds me of experiences under interim payments - hardly ever given but when asked for the problem sorting out the benefit delay was overcome and a decision on the claim was made instead.