Disabled people face being pushed into debt and poverty while waiting for the PIP claims to be processed, a new report has found
The Department for Work and Pensions has come under fire in a new report by the Public Accounts Committee which found “unacceptable” wait times for PIP applications to be processed. It warned that these delays can push claimants into debt and poverty while waiting for help.
The report found some people had to wait over a year for their claim to be processed, while the government’s goal is to process three quarters of PIP claims within 75 working days. Between 2024 and 2025, only 51% of claims were processed within 75 working days.
The committee stated: “It is unacceptable how long some PIP claimants are having to wait for their claims to be processed, which can cause them to get into debt and push them into poverty.
“The Department does not have an adequate plan to improve this in the short term.”
The DWP has been testing its online application process in a few postcodes which is meant to tackle these delays. Stating that it can reduce the time taken to process claims by 20 days.
It told the Committee in 2023 that up to 20% of PIP claims would be processed using this system by 2026. However, it has stated it can reach this target by 2029.
The Committee stated: “This is far too long for claimants to have to wait for improvements, and the DWP must now say when more PIP claimants can expect a better service.”
The report urged the government to provide more detailed data on the time taken to process new PIP claims and an update on its expected trajectory for when more PIP claimants can expect to receive a faster claim processing service as a result of the Health Transformation Programme.
A DWP spokesperson said: “We’re fixing the broken welfare system we inherited by giving claimants the support they need to move into good, secure jobs and out of poverty.
“We’ve redeployed around 1,000 work coaches to help sick or disabled people who have been left behind, alongside the most ambitious employment reforms for a generation.
“These reforms are being delivered as we replace outdated systems through our ambitious £647 million modernisation programme.
“We always aim to make Pip award decisions as quickly as possible, and the Timms Review is looking at Pip as a whole to make sure it is fit and fair for the future.”
