PIP claim and success rates fall

Details: Published: 20 September 2025

The latest quarterly statistics from the DWP show that the number of personal independence payment (PIP) claims and the success rates have fallen in the last quarter. There has also been a fall in the number of planned award reviews that result in an increase.

PIP claims

The figures show that for the quarter to July there were 210,000 new PIP claims, down by 3%.

In addition, the success rate for new PIP claims was 41% (excluding withdrawn), a decrease from 46% in July 2024.

This means that over one in ten claimants who would have got an award based on last year’s statistics did not get one this year.

When only those claimants who got as far as an assessment are taken into account, the fall in success rates is very similar, 48% as opposed to 53% in July 2024.

PIP planned reviews

The official statistics only give a five year figure for PIP planned award reviews: over the last 5 years (August 2020 to July 2025) 76% of planned award reviews resulted in an increase or no change to the level of award received by the claimant.

However, examination of figures in statxplore shows that in the quarter to July 2025, 66.47% of awards stayed the same or increased compared to just 55.30% in the same period last year.

But, whilst there has been an increase of almost a third in the number of reviews where the award stayed the same, there has been a fall of almost a half where the award was increased.

The full figures are:

Disallowed pre-assessment: 8.54% in three months to July 2024, as opposed to 4.79% in July 2025
Failed assessment: 6.16% in three months to July 2024, as opposed to 4.38% in July 2025
Award decreased: 6.48% in three months to July 2024, as opposed to 3.83% in July 2025
Award increased: 15.41% in three months to July 2024, as opposed to 8.2% in July 2025
Award the same: 39.89% in three months to July 2024, as opposed to 58.27% in July 2025

DLA to PIP reassessments

There were 23,000 DLA to PIP reassessments carried out in the quarter to July. The success rate was 72%, down from 76% last year.

When only those claimants who got as far as an assessment are taken into account, the fall in success rates is from 77% this July as opposed to 80% in July 2024.

Clearances

There have been some major shifts in which cases the DWP has focused on clearing.

Clearance for planned award reviews, changes of circumstance and DLA reassessments in the quarter ending July 2025 were 49%, 26% and 12% higher respectively than in quarter ending July 2024; while clearance volumes for new claims decreased by 7% over the same period.

What has changed?

It seems reasonable to ask why there has been a very marked change in the success rates for new PIP claims.

It seems unlikely that assessment companies have managed to ramp up face-to-face assessments, where the success rate is lower, to a sufficient degree to create such a fall.

But there have been no changes in the law that would account for such an alteration.

It may, of course, just be a blip. But we will be watching the next set of quarterly statistics very closely.

Comments

11 Comments
Terms
RSS
Register

or post as a guest

People in conversation:

Loading comment... The comment will be refreshed after 00:00.

Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
Jancal · 15 days ago
I have been trying to get an increase on my PIP as my condition which I have had for 20 years has drastically worsened and many more conditions have joined the list. I was refused an increase as they did not take into account that I do no cooking due to not being able to stand and my wrists an hands now have severe arthritis in them. I asked for a mandatory review which was again refused even after I had a phone call wanting me to elaborate on my life and I feel that words were being put into my mouth. This was again refused and the cooking question was downgraded from 3 points to 2! I am now awaiting the tribunal date (if there is going to be one!) and as I had to go to a tribunal for my original award I hope that I can get the same result as previously.
- 4 Up 0 Down
- Reply
- Share
Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
Crabtree666 · 15 days ago
Hi all I had a 3 hour call from serco, conditions have worsened since last September, when someone who was supporting me an advocate. He said wait before explaining conditions have worsened as I was awarded till may 2026. He advised me tell them then, he didn't support on the call a friend did, now worried with 3 hour call, I felt words where been put in my mouth, do I just wait? Or try and get ready and someone else to help me out?
- 1 Up 1 Down
- Reply
- Share
Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
Matt · 15 days ago
Hello, a more practical question:y mother contacted German measles on the early stages of pregnancy. As such so have severely reduced eyesight, substantial hearing loss. In 3006 I was misdiagnosed as a type two diabetic. Only after insisting on a referral to a Consultant Endocrinologist have I been informed that I am a type diabetic.

Currently I get standard daily living and standard mobility for PIP (I am employed do don't UC). Is it worth contacting DWP now or should I wait for review, scheduled for sometime in 2030?
- 0 Up 0 Down
- Reply
- Share
- Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
  Matt · 15 days ago
  
  @Matt Trying to type on a smartphone is a bloody nightmare if you have nystagmus.....in my last post I should have said I was misdiagnosed as a type two diabetic in 2006 only for the Consultant to inform me that I am atypical type one. Any advice about whether I should inform DWP now or wait to my next review in 2030 would be appreciated
  
  1 Up 0 Down
  
  Reply
  
  Share
Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
caroline Eavis · 16 days ago
How dare reform label pip claimants as shirkers people on pip go through a rigorous assessment and we are disabled pysically mentally both we need respect understanding not ashamed of who we are I have bi polar work part time but cannot work full time I need balance to try and keep well and stable it’s very hard life fashion does not come into it Rethink Mind have worked really hard to breakdown stigma he is throwing us right back
- 9 Up 0 Down
- Reply
- Share
Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
Gazmo66 · 16 days ago
Well my theory is is that when I had my review in June I was expecting an enhanced rate for mobility because thus had got a lot worse it was marked as 10 but they down graded it to 8 on review thereby I stayed at standard rate. Even though my mobility was less than 50% of the rate before I used to walk 20-50 metres the last firm I said 0-20 metres . But this marking down on face to face assessment by serco resulted in this since then I have now informed that my cardiology department nothing for me its incurable and hopeless it’s only a matter of time before I die. Well it will save the NHS and DWP. £500,000 in cancelled procedures and none payment of pip and state pension . Sorry about that but it does make you think Prehaps they want to kill us off!!!. Gary
- 12 Up 1 Down
- Reply
- Share
Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
CC · 17 days ago
It is just a thought With all this talk about changing the goal posts for PIP Maybe some of the people who claimed Thought it is now or never So claimed before any changes While others who had never really thought of claiming before but now decided it was worth a try Especially with prices rising and the threat of more tax rises on the horizon So any extra benefit might help ease the burden With many people out there thinking it is a doddle to claim So just maybe the amount of people claiming PIP who have less chance of getting PIP was larger than the average people claiming While not forgetting that the DWP might be licking their wounds as they thought they would be soon getting an easier ride when stopping people from getting PIP So might just have been a little more eager in stopping claims
- 8 Up 0 Down
- Reply
- Share
- Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
  Matt · 15 days ago
  
  @CC Interestingly a lot of the right wing press complain that it's TOO EASY to claim PIP. This will only intensify after the Budget when the "squeezed middle" will be expected to pay more tax, which they will resent bitterly.
  
  4 Up 0 Down
  
  Reply
  
  Share
Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
Si Bond · 17 days ago
I've been on standard award for daily living & mobility for several years now. But worsening health means I telephoned the DWP to notify them on my changes in circumstances.

They sent a 40 odd page form to fill out, which I did & enclosed my hospital discharge & diagnosis paperwork. I wasn't expecting much change & was sure they would need to conduct an in person examination/interrogation, & that further appeals would be required.

But 2 weeks later they paid a fairly large sum of money into our bank account.
A letter followed saying I've been awarded enhanced rates for both components indefinitely!!

So my advice is to always copy them as much medical evidence as possible!
Si.
- 11 Up 0 Down
- Reply
- Share
Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
Mat · 19 days ago
Maximus assessor aggressively trying to misrepresent interviewees. The government guidance for assessor’s says, for example, “effected any stage in the day.” Rheumatoid arthritis effects suffers badly in the morning. This known to be true. Maximus assessor said “I don’t want to hear about mornings. I’m not asking about mornings..” also trying cheap tricks like a Columbo call after the session had finished, phones again and says “ one more question “.Assessor became audibly annoyed when not getting the response they wanted. I’ve recorded the call. I advise everyone to record any phone interview.
- 17 Up 0 Down
- Reply
- Share
- Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
  Maria · 13 days ago
  
  @The Dogmother Question: " Well you are talking to me now aren't you?"
  Answer: "What's that got to do with anything"
  Or
  Answer: "I'm talking to you now?"
  
  I hope you contes
  
  1 Up 0 Down
  
  Reply
  
  Share
- Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
  The Dogmother · 19 days ago
  
  @Mat @Mat i had my third pip "interrogation " recorded. You can hear my breathlessness throughout. The assessor was a v junior nurse who wouldn't have been out of place as a Sargent major. Shewas nnasty and arrogant and each time I sspoke, sheput her own slant on my answer. She ssaid, "Doyou phone your mother daily?" "No,"my mothers here each day, and I never phone anyone. Infact this is my sisters phone as mine is years old and in a drawer somewhere, " her reply... "Well, you are talking to me now aren't you" ?
  Where do you actually go with a statement like that?
  I could habe said so much but bit my tongue my sister who was with me, Omg her face was a picture.
  F-F are no better ,they even lied about what I was wearing. Its blatant lies.ppl can dress it up as they like. If you see or hear one thing and change it to another its lies and mistruths. How do you get a fair go in the face of that.? Answer... You dont. Said i'd no heart specialist input. I'd 7 years of it right in front of them, could go on all day stating the utter drivel on my reports.
  
  15 Up 1 Down
  
  Reply
  
  Share
Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
Matt · 19 days ago
I see from the BBC McFadden is committed to welfare reform. I suspect we know the terms of reference for the Timms review, and hence his difficulties of getting co-production with disability organisations.
- 12 Up 0 Down
- Reply
- Share
- Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
  pollenpath · 19 days ago
  
  @Matt I don't like the news, but I like your insight.
  
  4 Up 0 Down
  
  Reply
  
  Share
Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
Moose · 20 days ago
I’m curious to know if the DWP are having high staff turnover? This may account for some of the poor decisions being made if there are lots of newbies and if in fact it’s a training need for some on their side. Also with all the heavy political and media hatred towards people claiming PIP, I wonder what sort of encouragement their assessors are being given to mark people down. If that is happening.
- 18 Up 0 Down
- Reply
- Share
- Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
  The Dogmother · 19 days ago
  
  @Matt Yes, there is.. straight from the horses mouth. Incentives. My sisters best friend worked for dwp for 6 years. She spoke with many assessors and a few told her to go for a job as an assessor, she was formally a nurse, but left after 7 years, but she refused , even after they told her of the "freebies",one even said if the customer crys ignore it, its all put on. Stay on target, and you'll do ok. They said its a bit stressful but not as much as it is for those we assess, ha ha!
  (Her actual words)
  My sisters pal said her blood ran cold at the callous words she heard. She left dwp inside five months after that and went back to nursing.
  
  13 Up 1 Down
  
  Reply
  
  Share
- Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
  Matt · 20 days ago
  
  @Moose There's probably financial incentives to refuse as many applications as possible. My guess is that assessors are paid a basic salary (minimum wage) plus commission. Similar to any sales role, and like sales, you're only as good as your last sale. There will be targets: don't consistently hit these and your employment will be terminated.
  
  16 Up 1 Down
  
  Reply
  
  Share
Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
Gladioli · 21 days ago
I support clients to make PIP claims and my colleague and I were discussing this week some of the really poor decisions being made. We are finding that the justifications used by some of the Health Professionals would be funny if they weren't so sad. I had a client awarded 0 points for engaging face to face where the main justification used was that until a year ago she worked in an office and this involved engaging face to face with others. I fail to understand how this is relevant now as a year ago she had to retire on the grounds of ill health. Another client was awarded 0 points for bathing as the fact that she is able to get into the passenger seat of car, with difficulty, apparently means that she can wash and bath unaided.
- 30 Up 2 Down
- Reply
- Share
- Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
  CC · 17 days ago
  
  @Gladioli People often get a total of 0 points for every descriptor on an award I know I was one of them Yet on appeal I got points on every descriptor Plus enough for higher awards for both parts So I think that many assessors are under pressure to reduce the amount of PIP awarded now Even if at a later date it might be awarded So it is just massaging the numbers With the added bonus many will not decide to appeal Some due to just the thought of it Others afraid of maybe losing what they already now have been awarded So stick with the lower amount While some just think they are not entitled so do not pursue any appeal
  
  6 Up 0 Down
  
  Reply
  
  Share

News