Hundreds of thousands of people win PIP payments after DWP rejected them

Hundreds of thousands are winning Personal Independence Payment (PIP) benefit payments after the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) rejected them – but wait times have almost DOUBLED. 455,000 people have won PIP after appealing decisions by the DWP over the past five years, new data shows.

According to official figures, more than a third (34%) of the 1.3million "mandatory reconsiderations" requested in the past five years led to a change in award. Peter Matejic, chief analyst at charity Joseph Rowntree Foundation, said: "This is just another example of how our social security system isn't there for us when we need it most.

"We know millions of people are struggling with the high cost of essentials right now, which is why it's not good enough that people have to wait 15 weeks on average for a decision on their PIP claim. Anyone requesting a mandatory reconsideration has to wait a further ten weeks - twice the average wait time from late 2023.

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"The government must work harder to minimise these delays when there is widespread hardship among disabled people." A DWP spokesperson said of these figures: "We support millions of people every year and our priority is they receive a supportive service and get the benefits they are entitled to as soon as possible.

“We are learning from appeals and working closely with our assessment providers to improve our processes and decision making.” If you disagree with the decision that’s been made about your PIP claim, you can challenge it.

You can challenge the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) decision about PIP if you didn’t get it, you got a lower rate than you expected or you think your award isn’t long enough. If you challenge the amount or length of your award, the DWP might look at your whole PIP claim again.

This means they might decide you shouldn’t get PIP at all.