PIP claims have surged significantly, reaching 4 million claimants in England and Wales
The Department for Work and Pensions has given an update on Personal Independence Payment review decisions – as a major report into potential changes to the benefit reached a key point. PIP claims have surged significantly, reaching 4 million claimants in England and Wales by April 2026. Claims for mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions—specifically anxiety and depression—have surged dramatically, rising from 5.9% in 2020 to 8.1% in 2025.
The system is under pressure – and Labour MP in a new parliamentary written question, asked DWP officials about delays. She asked Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Pat McFadden: “What assessment his Department has made of trends in the level of waiting times for Personal Independence Payment review decisions; and what steps he is taking to reduce delays for claimants in the Filton and Bradley Stoke constituency.W
In reply Sir Stephen Timms Minister of State for Social Security and Disability gave a breakdown on review times. It said the average time for PIP award reviews was 22 weeks in 2014, 16 weeks in 2017, 40 weeks in 2023 – and the latest figures show it is 25 weeks in 2025/6.
He said: “All claims remain in payment whilst award reviews are in progress and award increases identified during a planned review will be backdated as appropriate. Should customers report a change of circumstance and trigger an unplanned review, their claim will be prioritised alongside new claims.
“We are committed to ensuring people can access financial support through Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in a timely manner. Reducing customer journey times for PIP claimants is a priority for the Department and we are working constantly to make improvements to our service, which is kept under constant review.
“We always aim to make an award review decision as quickly as possible, taking into account the need to assess all available evidence, including that from the claimant. Most award review decisions are now made without the need for an assessment by a Healthcare Professional, where we have sufficient information, which helps to reduce the time taken to process many cases.”
This week a review into the future of PIP has given a key update. The review, led by work and pensions minister Sir Stephen Timms, was announced last year in the wake of a Labour backbench rebellion at plans under Sir Keir Starmer to limit eligibility for PIP. Initial findings were that PIP is ‘no longer fit for purpose’ and is failing to keep pace with how disability, health and work have changed over the past decade.
And in an update today from the co-chairs of the review they said that the basis for their report this autumn will see PIPs will remain a cash benefit – and that it will remain non-means tested. It also said it was looking at ‘light touch’ assessments.
How much Personal Independence Payment (PIP) a person can get depends on how difficult they find everyday activities (‘daily living’ tasks) and getting around (‘mobility’ tasks). Daily living element has two rates – £76.70 a week lower rate with the higher rate £114.60 a week. There is also a mobility element with weekly payments of £30.30 lower rate and £80 higher.
It has made a number of ‘principles’ for the review going forward on which the changes will be based – and these are key for recipients.
The update said PIPs in future:
What people will get:
- PIP ill be non-means-tested
- Cash will remain the foundation of the award
- The award will contribute fairly to the extra costs that arise from disability and long-term health conditions and reflect fluctuating and cumulative impacts
- Cost categories used to discuss the person’s circumstances, and therefore determine their award, could include equipment and aids; mobility and transport; clothing and bedding.
Assessments:
There will be a light-touch initial assessment to begin understanding a person’s circumstances and direct them to the most appropriate assessment pathway – this will be as simple as possible to reduce the administrative burden
There will be different assessment pathways for different groups of people, reducing unnecessary assessments where evidence is clear while providing more detailed conversations where needed to better understand the individual’s circumstances – people with well-evidenced, serious conditions, including those receiving end-of-life care, could benefit from a fast-track pathway
Assessment pathways will be flexible, for example providing access to a person-shaped interview where complexity, evidence gaps or additional support are identified
All assessment pathways will consider fluctuating cumulative impacts, rather than relying on a snapshot of the person’s circumstances
PIPs:
- The reformed benefit will support independent living, choice and control, helping disabled people and those with long-term health conditions participate fully in society
- The award will support participation and opportunity across everyday life, including work, volunteering, care and other meaningful activities
- A reformed benefit will provide a non-means-tested contribution towards the additional costs arising from disability or a long-term health condition
The co- chairs Dr Clenton Farquharson CBE, Sharon Brennan, Rt Hon. Sir Stephen Timms MP said: “Our task over the coming weeks is to test whether the emerging recommendations are fair, workable and capable of improving people’s experience of PIP and supporting people to participate in everyday life.
“We will listen carefully to what people tell us and identify where proposals need to change or require further work, feeding this back to the steering group as we move towards our final report later this autumn. Accessibility, fairness and accountability will remain central both to the recommendations that we develop and the way in which we develop them.”
