EU1A form - review waiting time?

12 Months is exceptionally long. Why did they take that long.

I know of a successful EU1A application which took half of that, and i was very distressed and pressured the department until a decision was reached.

Your parent is a Qualifying Family member for whom the department has limited discretion, so long as she is a dependant on you.

Why was the refusal, if i may ask? Are you British? I noticed with Brexit and the uncertainty of crash out, the department is acting funny on British application.