DWP explains PIP appeals process as 8,900 claimants await decision

The DWP has shared an update on how the appeal process for PIP decisions works as some 8,900 people await a decision on their appeal. The details were shared after a written question in Parliament about how many people were going through the process and how long people were waiting for their appeal to be sorted.

PIP (Personal Independence Payment) provides financial support for people who live with a long-term disability or health condition, to help pay for their extra costs. The benefit includes a daily living part and a mobility part with lower and higher rates for each element depending on your level of need.

Applicants often undergo an assessment to determine how they are affected by their health condition and how much they should get. Current claimants may also be reassessed when their award comes to an end, to decide how much they should get going forward.

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In cases were you disagree with the decision, you can appeal the decision. Usually you have to first go through a process called mandatory reconsideration first, where you ask the DWP to look at your case again.

8,900 PIP claimants awaiting appeal decision

After this, you can lodge an appeal. DWP minister Sir Stephen Timms provided a response to the question back in May, but he has now issued an update response. The new information explains: "As of April 2025, a total of 8,900 appeals are currently in progress. This figure has been rounded to the nearest 100.

"DWP is not solely responsible for appeals wait time. Appeals are lodged by claimants with His Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS), which the claimant may take up to 13 months to do. DWP then have 28 days to respond to the appeal when notified by HMCTS."

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You usually have to lodge your appeal within a month of getting your mandatory reconsideration decision letter, but in some cases there is an extended period, up to 13 months.

Mr Timms further explained: "DWP will either lapse the appeal and overturn the initial decision if new evidence allows or uphold the original decision and provide a written response as to why the decision cannot be revised. After this the time taken to list the appeal is dependent on HMCTS, who run tribunal hearings."

He said that for appeals that were cleared in the 2023/2024 financial year, the median wait time from an appeal being lodged to the DWP's response was five weeks. In cases where there was a tribunal hearing, the median time between the appeal being filed and the tribunal hearing was 34 weeks.