PIP planned review numbers double, success rates fall

Details: Published: 12 January 2026

The number of personal independence payment planned reviews carried out in the most recent quarter has almost doubled compared to the preceding year, the latest DWP statistics show, but success rates for both reviews and fresh claims have fallen.

Main statistics

PIP statistics for the quarter to October 2025 were released just before Christmas. They show that in that quarter, there were:

210,000 registrations and 170,000 clearances for new claims
34,000 changes of circumstance reported and 30,000 cleared
25,000 registrations and 20,000 clearances for DLA reassessments
140,000 planned award reviews registered and 220,000 cleared
65,000 mandatory reconsiderations (MRs) registered and 67,000 cleared

PIP planned review numbers

The DWP have diverted staff from fresh claims work to reviews in order to reduce the huge backlog, with the result that the quarter to October saw the highest level of planned award review clearances since PIP began. 96% more planned reviews were carried out than in the same quarter last year.

However, this has been at the expenses of other claimants: clearance volumes for new claims, changes of circumstance and DLA reassessments decreased by 25%, 20% and 10% respectively over the same period.

So, 40,000 fewer new PIP claims were cleared than were registered. This is in spite of the fact that the number of new claims is actually falling, down 6% from last year.

The average time taken to reach a decision for a fresh PIP claim has risen from 14 weeks last October to 16 weeks this October.

Success rates

The success rate for new PIP claims has dropped dramatically in the space of a year, just 38% of new claims got an award this quarter, compared to 44% a year ago.

Looking only at claimants who attended an assessment, rather than being disqualified or dropping out earlier, 47% got an award compared with 52% last year.

The DWP do not give statistics for planned award reviews, but using the StatXplore tool, we have created them.

They show that whilst the percentage of awards that were decreased or disallowed remained very similar, there was a big drop in the percentage of awards that were increased.

Disallowed: 5.88% in October 2024, 6.62% in October 2025.

Decreased: 5.65% in October 2024, 5.33% in October 2025.

Increased: 24.24% in October 2024, 14.45% in October 2025.

Maintained: 64.22% in October 2024, 73.5% in October 2025.

Reduction in planned award reviews

The DWP seem to have succeeded in making PIP planned award reviews virtually financially neutral: three quarters of awards stay the same and almost the same proportion of claimants have their award decreased or disallowed as have it increased.

This gives further justification to the decision to extend initial the length of PIP awards made from April 2026 to three years for claimants aged over 25. At present, 77% of new claims get a short term award of 0 to 2 years.

In addition, claimants who remain entitled will get a five year award at their next review.

The probability is that this will free up assessors to focus more on new claims, especially via face-to-face assessments, with the aim of further reducing the number of awards.

You can read the latest PIP statistics here.

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Ilo · 7 days ago
I find it bizarre that your medical circumstances get worse but your payment remains the same. They clearly look at the points system. You may be worse, it your points either remain the same or only increase neglibly so you remain in the same award. The problem is, if you have already not been given the correct award points. Especially when the worsening condition reinforces that the point should be increased, yet still they ignore it.
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Joe · 8 days ago
Originally had it for 5 years but when it came for review I have been waiting for over 40 weeks so had to get my mp involved as it was about to run out they have extended by a year while they review it has anyone else had something similar as worried
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  Pandora · 6 days ago
  
  @Joe yes I have just had letter stating the same, review should of been done by beginning of February. in the letter says if it isnt done within the extended year it will be extended for another year... a bit barking really as our circumstance based on medical issues may well have worsened by then so any input on our original review may well not reflect as is by the time of assessment
  
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Sandra · 15 days ago
I have been waiting over 20 months for Pip review. Have been told it is in a queue waiting to be sent for assessment. Had extention renewed again. Hate this waiting it so stressful.
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Rik · 16 days ago
I see the idea of vouchers instead of money has reared its ugly head again. Labour are worse than the Tories!
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  Copycat · 13 days ago
  
  @Neil Yes your right in America food stamps and once your work insurance runs out you have too sell your furniture.
  
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  Neil · 15 days ago
  
  @Rik Has that been mentioned again, I think in America it's food stamps.
  
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  John · 15 days ago
  
  @Rik I assume you are talking about the petition which is nothing to do with Labour. It appears to have been started by a businessman who thinks it would reduce his taxes.
  
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D · 18 days ago
@benefits@work admin

Just been looking at your below stats:

Disallowed: 5.88% in October 2024, 6.62% in October 2025.

Decreased: 5.65% in October 2024, 5.33% in October 2025.

Increased: 24.24% in October 2024, 14.45% in October 2025.

Maintained: 64.22% in October 2024, 73.5% in October 2025.

In the years between covid and when Labour took over there was a large increase in pip claimants at reviews getting updated to max care & mobility elements - because of that max out claimants in reviews can only be maintained, decreased or disallowed which hence the percentage shift in 2024 vs 2025 from increased to maintained award status. When you factor in all above stats (esp the % shift from decreased to disallowed) the most worrying stat is the 0.52% increase in awards disallowed.

Also I think there’s been some scaremongering on the most recent pip and f2f announcement. First off 1st time pip award min term being increased to 3 years and successful review being at least 5 years is a huge win (though I imagine Tory’s/reform will scrap it when they get voted back in in next general election)

But the outcry in the increase to 30% f2f assessments for both uc and pip I don’t fully understand. The idea of a telephone or video assessment barely existed before the pandemic. The shift from f2f to phone assessments was always meant to be a temporary measure during COVID and the gov plan was always meant to get back assessment method to pre pandemic levels (vast majority f2f at centres or in claimants home). The thing is I think there’s dwp assessors also preferred doing phone assessments from the comfort of their own home and dwp have been having assessor shortage issues.

so this new dwp of 30% f2f assessments is actually imo significantly lower than expected as I imagine the dwp would like to be back to 80-90% f2f by now) - the only thing I will say is that there are many long term disabled claimants with lifelong disabilities who have already had double figures of f2f assessments across all awards and also the new claimant class from the start of covid in 2020 that have never had a f2f - a number of you will slate me for this but the dwp should prioritise those that have never had a f2f to go through one on their review (bit unfair to force someone who’s already had several to go through another one over a claimant that’s never had one)

Also I think the f2f should be mandatory for the initial uc and pip assessments when a claim is first submitted but reassessments and reviews should be phone based unless home or f2f is requested by claimants - that would clear the backlog quicker, reduce appeals and still allow dwp to fully scrutinise all new claims (fraudulent claims most likely happen with new claimants rather than pre existing ones)
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  John · 17 days ago
  
  @D In my opinion for some claimants the initial awards should just be paper based due to the nature of the medical condition and/or the amount of NHS medical evidence that the DWP can independently verify/obtain direct from the NHS.
  
  Some conditions make claimants a unreliable source of information or makes them not capable of being a source of information or makes any contact by the DWP detrimental to health.
  
  In my opinion for some the intial award should be for life. As some incurable health conditions will not get better. They will only stay the same or get worse. Also for some the benefits should be unconditional as they will never be work capable.
  
  In my opinion for some there should be no future contact by the DWP apart from yearly benefit uprating letters. The DWP should not be causing them worry or stress or detrimental effects to health. The DWP should be providing them with financial security for life.
  
  My brother has never had a face-to-face or phone assessment for any benefits ever. Their benefits have always been awarded just on the paper based evidence and DWP independently obtained evidence from the NHS. And have always been for the maximum duration possible. Severe Disablement Allowance and DLA for life plus Income Support on grounds of disability. With any future contact by the DWP to first contact their doctor. And when they renegaded on those for life benefits and renaged on no contact without first contacting their doctor. ESA 3 year reassments as there was no severe conditions criteria group at the time, and PIP ongoing award expected to be on PIP for life. And last year income based and contributions based ESA to UC and new style ESA. And the assessment, reassment letters and forms and transfer process to UC all caused detrimental effect to health. And were in my opinion all pointless as his health is not going to miraculously improve.
  
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Angie · 18 days ago
What about updating them if your health conditions have changed and need a better award? Is that classed as a new application and the risk is that one will be given a 2 year award if successful? They currently have a 10 year award until 2019 but they only get basic daily living
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  John · 18 days ago
  
  @Angie As they already receive PIP it should be treated as a reassessment. So if they are 25 years or older a 5 year award will be the standard award length. As they got a 10 year award last time they might get another 10 year award. The intention of the change is to reduce the number of short awards not reduce the number of longer awards.
  
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Leah · 18 days ago
So does the longer award also apply to current claimants that are reviewed after April 2026? My award is usually three years, which by the time I have gone through a MR, threatened with a tribunal etc, I get 12 to 18 months peace and the form drops again!

It would be such a relief to get a longer award and know I can relax a bit more.
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  Leah · 18 days ago
  
  @John Thanks for your reply John. I wasn't sure if it only applied to new claimants moving forward, which doesn't make much sense, but this is the DWP we are talking about!
  
  I'm certain I will get awarded even if I have to go to a tribunal, so to think that I could get a longer award is such a weight off my mind.
  
  I have a long term condition so a longer award is more appropriate anyway.
  
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  John · 18 days ago
  
  @Leah Yes people aged 25 and over when they are reassessed will get a 5 year PIP award as standard.
  
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Gillian Foreman · 18 days ago
I requested a mandatory reconsideration on my failed pip renewal- and sadly have missed the date for my appeal- due to feeling so overwhelmed at the thought of the actual appeal process
Is there any way I can still appeal?
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  Chris · 11 days ago
  
  @Gillian Foreman You can still appeal on the grounds you needed more time to get information for your MR.
  if not you’ll have to go down tribunal route contact you’re local Citizens advice For a appointment with them regarding it
  
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  Valerie · 17 days ago
  
  @Gillian Foreman Your appeal can be accepted up to 13 months after the MRN if you have a good excuse. Overwhelming mental health probleems are usually accepted.
  
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MadSi · 18 days ago
Been waiting for my PIP review since January 2025. CRAPITA have the review form. It's given me an increase in anxiety but what can I do? It's just a horrible long waiting situation.
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Waiting room · 18 days ago
I’ve been waiting for a review outcome since March last year, even though have cancer. It’s awful not knowing whether I will be losing the car and blue badge I need for going to the hospital.
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  Leah · 18 days ago
  
  @Waiting room Someone told a claimant on a fb thread the other day that if they had cancer their PIP form would be rushed through. The claimant was so relieved and thanked this person for letting them know. I felt awful telling them it wasn't the case unless they had been given 12 months or less to live. Which luckily wasn't the case for this claimant . . but still.
  
  I wish people would think before they spread nonsense about PIP. The people claiming it are already vulnerable.
  
  I'm sorry that you have to deal with PIP stress and uncertainty on top of an already difficult diagnosis.
  
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Gladioli · 19 days ago
It would be useful to know how many PIP Reviews are being carried out on paper. My colleague and I support people to complete AR1s. We are finding that more of our clients are having paper assessments. This seems to be negatively impacting clients who have requested a review themselves as their mobility has deteriorated. We think that they if they had a face to face or telephone assessment they would have been awarded the mobility component.
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rtbcpart2 · 19 days ago
Yes, but what does it all mean???
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  Bern400 · 18 days ago
  
  @rtbcpart2 p.s. it's much easier for the DWP to disallow a New Claimant award than it is for an Existing Claimant Renewal.
  
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  Bern400 · 18 days ago
  
  @rtbcpart2 It appears the DWP are putting lots of temporary resources in reducing the huge PIP Reviews backlog - predominately waving through current award statuses/extending award lengths to 5 years - which will significantly free up assessor's time to carry out more face to face meetings for New Claimants leading to lots more failed awards.
  
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lollo1 · 19 days ago
I am dreading our Son’s next review. He has an ongoing award from 2017 which it says we will contact you after May 2027. However I am aware that they will possibly send it a lot earlier. My main concern is that even though he has no change they may well reduce his award from the above statistics.
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  John · 18 days ago
  
  @Angie The changes in the article are for people who have fixed end date awards. People with ongoing awards are unaffected.
  
  We do not know about any Timms PIP review (reporting in autumn 2026) assessment changes. It is hoped/expected that those with ongoing awards will be unaffected as that has been the position of Timms and he is in charge of the Timms review. Timms has previously repeatedly stated that any changes to the PIP assessment system would not effect those with ongoing awards as they are not routinely reassessed just light touch reviewed. And that he would look at protecting those with ongoing awards who in a light touch review report a change that causes them to be reassed.
  
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  Angie · 18 days ago
  
  @John If one has an ongoing award does that mean the changes will not affect the person?
  
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  Ann · 18 days ago
  
  @John Thank you John for making my day. I shall rest easier now when her review comes round. You are a great comfort to many of us carers and claimants with your vast knowledge of this minefield of a benefits system.
  
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  John · 19 days ago
  
  @Ann Yes, "ongoing period" = ongoing award. An award for a ongoing period not a period with a fixed end date. They are expected to be on PIP for life and the review after 10 years will be a light touch review AR2 form. Not a reassessment AR1 form.
  
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  Ann · 19 days ago
  
  @John John, I have re read my sister's award letter and it says that she has been awarded PIP for an ongoing period. Is this classed as an ongoing award? Sorry to be a pain.....
  
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Mik · 20 days ago
Do we know how many reviews in % are done by paper and how many by assessment ( of all types)?
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Treetop · 20 days ago
Is it known if 5 years will be the norm for planned reviews even if that takes us in to state pension age?
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  Treetop · 19 days ago
  
  @John Thanks, John.
  
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  John · 19 days ago
  
  @Treetop If at review a 5 year award will take you past state pension age it should be an ongoing/indefinite award. Unless your health condition would be expected to get better.
  
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