Autism and ADHD had failed-assessment rates around three times the overall average, out of the fifty conditions with the most completed change of circumstance reviews (supersessions). But there are other conditions where the proportion of awards which are increased is well above or well below average.
Most readers will be aware that the DWP have begun extending the length of hundreds of thousands of PIP awards. As a result, the DWP says it is expecting an increase in the number of change of circumstances notifications, because people’s awards will now last longer and a change is more likely to occur before the award is reviewed.
Fifty conditions
Bearing this in mind, Benefits and Work decided to find out what 50 primary conditions recorded by the DWP have had the most change of circumstance decisions over the last year that figures are available for. We also wanted to find out if there was any variation in outcomes.
Over 10,000 claimants a month requested a change of circumstances review in the last year to April 2026. Of these:
- 5.5% failed the assessment.
- 3.2% had their award decreased.
- 38.6% had their award increased.
- 49.6% had their award maintained at the same rates.
(Please note: the figures we are using do not total 100% partly due to rounding and also because, to make the table below useable, we have not included figures for those who failed to attend their assessment or voluntarily gave up their award).
So, on average, fewer than one in ten claimants were worse-off at the end of the process, four in ten were better-off and half saw no change.
It’s important to note that these figures do not take into account any successful mandatory reconsiderations or appeals and that a small number of claimants may have been reporting a reduction in their needs.
But some conditions did not conform to these averages at all. In particular, autism and ADHD, had very different results.
For autism:
- 17% failed the assessment,
- 9.8% had their award decreased,
- 26.8% had their award increased,
- 42.5% stayed the same.
For ADHD:
- 16.3% failed the assessment,
- 5.5% had their award decreased,
- 28.7% had their award increased,
- 44.9% stayed the same.
It is also apparent that the proportion of claimants who get an increase in their award varies considerably, some cancer categories, strokes, heart disease, multiple sclerosis and COPD are likely to be above average.
ADHD, anxiety, autism, learning disabilities and depressive disorders all had a below average proportion of claimants getting an increase in their award.
We have set out the 50 conditions with the largest number of change of circumstances decisions, along with the results, below.
PIP change of circumstance clearances by main disabling condition
| Clearance rank | Main disabling condition | Completed clearances | Disallowed – failed assessment | Award decreased | Award increased | Award maintained |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | ADHD / ADD | 1,783 | 16.3% | 5.5% | 28.7% | 44.9% |
| 43 | Ankle and foot disorders - Other / type not known | 641 | 8.3% | 3.1% | 35.1% | 50.2% |
| 1 | Anxiety and depressive disorders - mixed | 12,376 | 7.3% | 3.6% | 31.0% | 53.6% |
| 25 | Anxiety disorders - Other / type not known | 1,127 | 7.7% | 3.2% | 29.6% | 54.8% |
| 49 | Arthritis - Psoriatic | 540 | 4.3% | 2.0% | 43.5% | 48.7% |
| 27 | Asthma | 972 | 5.1% | 4.2% | 35.5% | 53.5% |
| 13 | Autism | 2,058 | 17.0% | 9.8% | 26.8% | 42.5% |
| 14 | Back pain - Non specific (mechanical) | 2,053 | 3.8% | 2.3% | 31.6% | 58.8% |
| 4 | Back pain - Specific - Other / type not known | 4,251 | 3.8% | 2.5% | 31.4% | 59.4% |
| 17 | Bipolar affective disorder (Hypomania / Mania) | 1,674 | 7.5% | 4.4% | 37.3% | 46.4% |
| 26 | Bowel (colon recturm anus) - cancer of | 1,088 | 3.8% | 1.5% | 54.8% | 38.9% |
| 21 | Breast - cancer of | 1,503 | 6.9% | 3.0% | 49.2% | 38.3% |
| 39 | Cancers - Other / type not known | 689 | 4.1% | 1.7% | 58.3% | 35.7% |
| 31 | Cardiac failure | 880 | 2.6% | 2.7% | 50.7% | 41.1% |
| 10 | Cerebrovascular accident (stroke) | 2,224 | 4.5% | 3.3% | 51.4% | 38.4% |
| 37 | Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) | 769 | 8.6% | 4.4% | 41.2% | 42.9% |
| 5 | Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) chronic bronchitis/emphysema | 4,162 | 3.0% | 2.1% | 46.9% | 46.1% |
| 6 | Depressive disorder | 2,741 | 6.6% | 3.1% | 29.9% | 56.4% |
| 34 | Diabetes mellitus (category unknown) | 819 | 9.3% | 3.4% | 40.7% | 43.2% |
| 50 | Diabetes mellitus Type 1 (insulin dependent) | 521 | 6.3% | 3.3% | 41.8% | 43.8% |
| 32 | Diabetes mellitus Type 2 (non insulin dependent) | 872 | 5.5% | 3.3% | 41.1% | 47.1% |
| 3 | Fibromyalgia | 7,263 | 4.2% | 3.5% | 39.6% | 50.8% |
| 41 | Generalised musculoskeletal disease - Other / type not known | 673 | 4.8% | 2.8% | 38.6% | 49.8% |
| 36 | Hip disorders - Other / type not known | 779 | 7.4% | 3.1% | 32.0% | 54.0% |
| 8 | Inflammatory arthritis - Other / type not known | 2,292 | 3.5% | 2.3% | 34.0% | 57.3% |
| 47 | Kidney disease - Other / type not known | 571 | 6.3% | 3.2% | 40.1% | 46.9% |
| 28 | Knee disorders - Other / type not known | 942 | 5.7% | 3.3% | 31.0% | 57.5% |
| 45 | Learning disability - Other / type not known | 625 | 6.1% | 3.5% | 27.8% | 55.2% |
| 40 | Lower limb - Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation of | 686 | 8.2% | 3.9% | 33.7% | 48.8% |
| 19 | Lumbar disc lesion | 1,572 | 2.3% | 2.7% | 37.5% | 55.0% |
| 29 | Lumbar spondylosis (OA spine) | 928 | 3.4% | 2.2% | 35.1% | 57.5% |
| 9 | Lung cancers - Other | 2,255 | 0.4% | 1.1% | 64.7% | 33.4% |
| 22 | Multiple sclerosis | 1,429 | 2.3% | 2.1% | 52.8% | 40.7% |
| 42 | Musculoskeletal disease - Regional / Localised - Other / type not known | 654 | 7.2% | 3.8% | 33.0% | 52.4% |
| 46 | Myocardial infarction | 572 | 7.3% | 3.5% | 36.7% | 49.8% |
| 24 | Neurological disorders - Other / type not known | 1,263 | 7.0% | 4.4% | 44.0% | 41.9% |
| 23 | Neuropathies - Other / type not known including peripheral | 1,275 | 5.4% | 4.2% | 37.9% | 49.6% |
| 30 | Osteoarthritis of Hip | 921 | 4.9% | 3.4% | 34.9% | 53.3% |
| 11 | Osteoarthritis of Knee | 2,086 | 3.7% | 2.3% | 34.4% | 57.3% |
| 48 | Osteoarthritis of other single joint | 548 | 4.2% | 3.3% | 36.5% | 54.6% |
| 44 | Parkinson's disease | 637 | 1.4% | 0.9% | 61.2% | 33.6% |
| 18 | Personality disorder | 1,648 | 7.0% | 3.7% | 36.9% | 47.3% |
| 12 | Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) | 2,070 | 7.5% | 4.9% | 33.2% | 50.0% |
| 2 | Primary generalised Osteoarthritis | 8,436 | 3.1% | 2.8% | 38.3% | 53.6% |
| 35 | Psychotic disorders - Other / type not known | 783 | 7.9% | 2.8% | 36.1% | 48.1% |
| 7 | Rheumatoid arthritis | 2,450 | 2.4% | 2.2% | 40.3% | 52.6% |
| 20 | Schizophrenia | 1,559 | 6.2% | 3.8% | 36.1% | 49.5% |
| 15 | Seizures - unclassified | 1,802 | 5.8% | 2.9% | 30.0% | 57.3% |
| 33 | Spinal stenosis | 857 | 3.6% | 2.2% | 40.1% | 51.7% |
| 38 | Spine - Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation of | 750 | 4.1% | 3.1% | 35.5% | 54.4% |
If you are considering notifying a change of circumstances
If you think that your needs have increased to the degree that you now qualify for a different rate of PIP, try our free PIP test to see if you now assess yourself as scoring enough points to get a higher award.
If you do, then bear in mind that the DWP may take a different view and, above all, do not think it is a foregone conclusion that they will agree that your needs have increased. So, as always, evidence – whether it’s your own account of the effects of your condition or information from friends, relative or health professionals – is what will make the difference.
Our Guide to PIP Claims and Reviews will take you through the change of circumstances process, including detailed guidance on how to complete the AR1 form you will be sent if you notify the DWP of a change in your condition.
If you are uncertain about whether to notify a change, try to get advice before doing so.
