Birkenhead MP Frank Field said 154,000+ people last year waited at least ten days for their benefit claim to be processed. 44,000+ waited longer than sixteen days. He chairs the work and pensions select committee, and acknowledged progress had been made to reduce waiting time. However, for people with little or no money in the bank, to survive even a day, let alone two weeks, without an income is an almost impossible task. Further action is needed to restrict hunger. If the department could deliver all new claims within five working days it would immediately reduce the number of people relying on foodbanks by a third. Delayed benefit payment remains the most common trigger for an emergency food parcel. One option available to claimants in the case of a delay is a short-term benefit advance. However, over half of new claimants applying for such a payment were unsuccessful.