Contents
- 1 How long does it take for a PIP review to go through?
- 2 How many people fail PIP?
- 3 How much back pay will I get from PIP?
- 4 What happens if PIP is refused?
How long does it take for a PIP review to go through?
As of October 2022, it takes the DWP 16 weeks to decide a new PIP claim.
How long is PIP reviews taking 2023?
Clearance times (median weeks) to January 2023 – 
Source: PIP Statistics to January 2023, England & Wales Tables 1A & 1B Clearance times can be volatile reflecting a variety of factors including customer demand, operational resource and timescales for different parts of the process, which are sometimes altered to actively manage workflows or in response to external situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
- are currently (January 2023) 14 weeks “end to end” (from registration to a decision being made) and 9 weeks from the AP referral to the decision
- are shorter than the same period a year ago (22 weeks and 16 weeks respectively in January 2022)
- peaked most recently in August 2021 at 26 weeks “end to end” (from registration to a decision being made) and 21 weeks from the AP referral to the decision, partly because claims that had been allowed a longer deadline for return of PIP 2 form during the period late February to late May 2021 were reaching clearance, and partly because priority in some areas was given to claims that had been waiting longer for processing due to COVID-19 disruption
Clearance times for normal rules DLA reassessment claims:
- are currently (January 2023) 16 weeks “end to end” (from registration to a decision being made) and 10 weeks from the AP referral to the decision
- are shorter than the same period a year ago (25 weeks and 17 weeks respectively in January 2022)
Clearance times for SREL claims:
are 4 working days for new claims from registration to decision. There are too few DLA reassessment SREL claims for a median to be meaningfully interpreted
Information on clearance times and outstanding times (time already waited for cases where DWP has yet to make a decision), including regional breakdowns, can be found in National Tables 1 – 3 accompanying this release.
What happens when PIP is reviewed?
How PIP reviews work – You will continue to get PIP while your claim is being reviewed.
You’ll get a letter asking you to fill in a form called ‘Award review – how your disability affects you’. Fill in the form using the notes that come with it. Send the form and any supporting information you have not shared with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) before – the form explains what to include and where to send it. You’ll need to return it within 1 month. Contact the PIP enquiry line if you need more time. DWP will review your form. If they need more information, an independent health professional might phone you to ask some questions or send a letter inviting you to an assessment. Assessments can be in person, over the phone or by video call. You’ll get a letter that tells you what will happen with your PIP. If your needs have changed, your PIP might be increased, reduced or stopped.
Because of coronavirus (COVID-19), you’ll only be invited to an assessment in person if more information is needed and you cannot do an assessment by phone or video call. Your invitation letter will explain how to attend your appointment safely,
How successful are PIP reviews?
And the latest figures from the tribunal service show that, between January and March 2023, 68 per cent of PIP appeals found in favour of the claimant.
Why is my PIP review taking so long 2023?
Forum Members forums ESA, PIP and DLA Queries and Results PIP Renewal timescale 2023.
3 months 2 weeks ago #279016 by Rossi222 How long is the PIP Renewal process taking? I returned my form 10 weeks ago. My Motability Car lease is due to end and the process for changing starts 31st March. In January 2021, my PIP was extended to December 2023., so I will have to ask for an extension on the lease as I have less than 12 months left on my award.
- Everything seems so far behind, with no communication, it just adds to the already nerve wracking experience.
- A rough idea of the timescale would be great.
- Also, are there any figures on how many renewals are being decided without an interview, to help clear the backlog? Many thanks Please Log in or Create an account to join the conversation.3 months 2 weeks ago #279023 by BIS Hi Rossi222 I’m afraid I can’t offer you any sort of timescale because we just don’t know.
Some people are hearing within 8 weeks, and some are taking up to 18 months. They are dealing with a backlog, and the majority of people are being given a video or a telephone assessment. Some people have been given a paper-based assessment, but I have noticed that many of the award lengths seem to be short.
Forum Members forums ESA, PIP and DLA Queries and Results PIP Renewal timescale 2023.
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Does PIP review get backdated?
Getting your mandatory reconsideration result – The DWP doesn’t have to make the decision within a specific timescale and sometimes it can take several months to get your decision letter – this letter is called a ‘mandatory reconsideration notice’. You’ll be sent 2 copies – you’ll need to send 1 off if you need to go to the next stage of appeal.
- If the DWP change their decision, you’ll start getting your PIP payment straight away.
- Your payment for PIP be backdated.
- If the decision was about a new claim, they’ll backdate your PIP to the date you made the claim.
- If the decision was about an ongoing claim, they’ll backdate your PIP to the date it was stopped or reduced.
Don’t be put off if they don’t change the decision, not many decisions are overturned at this stage. More decisions are changed after the second stage of the challenge – if your mandatory reconsideration is turned down you can appeal to a tribunal,
Can I track my PIP?
Track your appeal – If you appeal a PIP decision online, you’ll be asked if you want to join the ‘track your appeal’ service. This will send you regular email updates and reminders about your appeal. You’ll also get a login, so you can check the progress of your appeal at any time.
How many months can PIP be backdated?
How to claim PIP – Claiming Personal Independence Payment can take up to four months after making your claim to you receiving any money. PIP cannot be backdated but your payments start from the date you made your claim to cover the handling time at the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).
How do I pass a PIP review?
Check the questions on your form – The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has started sending out a new version of the PIP review form. This means the advice on this page might not match the form you’ve been sent. You should answer the questions on the form you’ve got.
How do I know if my PIP has been approved?
Before you challenge a decision, you may want to understand it better. You may want to challenge the decision straight away because you normally have to start a challenge within one month of the decision date. The decision about your Personal Independence Payment is in a letter that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) send you.
Does everyone get a PIP review?
How long you get PIP for – The DWP will give you PIP with no end date if either:
they think your condition will never get better
you’ve reached State Pension age – you can check your State Pension age on GOV.UK
This is called an ‘indefinite award’. If you have an indefinite award the DWP will usually review it every 10 years. If you don’t get an indefinite award, you’ll get PIP for a fixed amount of time – your decision letter will tell you for how long. If you’re terminally ill the award will be for 3 years.
you were awarded PIP for 2 years or less you challenged the DWP’s decision and a tribunal awarded you PIP or increased how much you get
What percentage of people win a PIP appeal?
Details Published: 12 March 2023 The backlog of benefits appeals is continuing to rise and is now 79% higher than it was a year ago, according to newly released statistics. The success rates for appeals has fallen for all benefits except PIP, which has seen a 1% increase.
PIP 69%, up 1% DLA 61%, down 5% ESA 49%, down 11% UC 53%, down 7%
Compared to the same period in 2021, the number of appeals lodged was up by 18%, mainly due to increases in PIP appeals – up 32% – and UC appeals which were up by 5%. An impressive 68% more appeals were dealt with – up from 19,000 up to 32,000. But the number of appeals waiting to be heard rose by 79%, and now stands at a total of 67,000.
How many people fail PIP?
Success rates for PIP claims by condition The DWP record every successful PIP claim under one of over 500 different health conditions, depending on which one they think is your main source of points. The table below shows what percentage of claims for each condition are successful For comparison, the overall average success rate for PIP claims is 52%.
| Cardiovascular disease – Other / type not known | 49.60% |
| Abdomen – Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation Of | 55.00% |
| Achondroplasia | 86.10% |
| Acne Vulgaris | 19.70% |
| Addison’s Disease | 48.70% |
| Adhd / Add | 49.70% |
| Adhesive Capsulitis (Frozen Shoulder) | 39.50% |
| Adrenal Diseases – Other / Type Not Known | 43.80% |
| Agoraphobia | 65.20% |
| Alcohol Misuse | 61.60% |
| Allergy No Risk Of Anaphylaxis | 20.30% |
| Allergy Risk Of Anaphylaxis Unknown Or Not Fully Assessed | 27.50% |
| Allergy With A Risk Of Anaphylaxis | 26.50% |
| Amblyopia | 59.20% |
| Amino Acid Metabolism – Disorders Of | 37.10% |
| Amputation – Lower Limb(S) | 88.50% |
| Amputation – Upper Limb(S) | 76.70% |
| Amputations – Upper & Lower Limb/S | 91.30% |
| Amyloidosis | 82.10% |
| Anaemia – Aplastic | 59.40% |
| Anaemia – B12 (Pernicious)/Folate Deficiency | 35.10% |
| Anaemia – Iron Deficiency | 33.50% |
| Anaemia – Sickle Cell | 48.60% |
| Anaemias – Other / Type Not Known | 42.00% |
| Aneurysm – Aortic | 60.40% |
| Aneurysm – Cerebral | 64.30% |
| Aneurysms – Other / Type Not Known | 55.10% |
| Angina | 55.60% |
| Angioedema | 39.80% |
| Angiosarcoma | 90.80% |
| Ankle And Foot Disorders – Other / Type Not Known | 45.10% |
| Ankylosing Spondylitis | 70.20% |
| Anorectal Abscess | 37.30% |
| Anorexia Nervosa | 71.20% |
| Anterior Uveitis (Iritis) | 60.50% |
| Antiphospholipid Syndrome | 61.70% |
| Anxiety Disorders – Other / Type Not Known | 38.60% |
| Aortic Valve Disease | 47.80% |
| Arterial Disease Excluding Coronary – Other / Type Not Known | 57.90% |
| Arthritis – Psoriatic | 69.30% |
| Arthritis – Reactive | 68.60% |
| Asbestosis | 74.60% |
| Ascites | 76.90% |
| Asperger Syndrome | 51.10% |
| Asthma | 48.90% |
| Astigmatism | 51.50% |
| Ataxia – Friedrich’s | 92.50% |
| Ataxias – Other / Type Not Known | 81.50% |
| Atherosclerosis (Pvd / Claudication) | 64.40% |
| Atrial Fibrillation/Flutter | 49.20% |
| Atrioseptal Defect (ASD) | 56.90% |
| Attention To Artificial Opening Colostomy/Ileostomy/ Stoma – No Underlying Diagnosis | 38.40% |
| Autism | 72.30% |
| Autoimmune (Idiopathic) Thrombocytopaenic Purpura (ITP) | 42.90% |
| Autoimmune Disease – Other / Type Not Known | 60.70% |
| Autoimmune Hepatitis | 45.50% |
| Back Pain – Non Specific (Mechanical) | 56.20% |
| Back Pain – Specific – Other / Type Not Known | 68.80% |
| Bacterial Diseases – Other / Type Not Known | 55.20% |
| Bedwetting (Enuresis) | 33.30% |
| Behcet’s Disease | 58.00% |
| Bipolar Affective Disorder (Hypomania / Mania) | 61.30% |
| Bladder – Cancer Of | 76.50% |
| Bladder Urethra Testes And Penis – Other Diseases Of / Type Not Known | 28.00% |
| Blepharospasm | 62.20% |
| Blood Disorders – Type Not Known | 51.00% |
| Blood Vessels/Lymphatics – Other Diseases Of / Type Not Known | 57.30% |
| Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) | 51.80% |
| Bone – Other Cancers Of / Type Not Known | 85.90% |
| Bowel (Colon Recturm Anus) – Cancer Of | 87.20% |
| Brachial Plexus | 76.10% |
| Bradycardia | 36.90% |
| Brain And Spinal Cord – Cancer Of | 91.30% |
| Breast – Cancer Of | 80.20% |
| Bronchiectasis | 65.10% |
| Bronchus – Cancer Of | 96.60% |
| Buerger’s Disease | 70.30% |
| Bulimia Nervosa | 57.00% |
| Bullous Disease – Other / Type Not Known | 40.10% |
| Burns | 61.30% |
| Bursitis | 50.20% |
| Cancers – Other / Type Not Known | 78.40% |
| Carbohydrate Metabolism – Disorders Of | 58.80% |
| Cardiac Arrhythmia – Pacemaker/Implantable Defibrillator Fitted | 52.10% |
| Cardiac Arrhythmias – Other / Type Not Known | 44.10% |
| Cardiac Failure | 66.10% |
| Cardiomyopathy | 56.30% |
| Cardiovascular Disease – Other / Type Not Known | 49.70% |
| Carpal Tunnel Syndrome | 45.90% |
| Cataplexy | 50.30% |
| Cataract | 58.00% |
| Cellulitis | 65.70% |
| Cerebral Palsy – Ataxic | 87.30% |
| Cerebral Palsy – Athetoid | 98.50% |
| Cerebral Palsy – Diplegic | 88.70% |
| Cerebral Palsy – Hemiplegic | 88.40% |
| Cerebral Palsy – Other / Type Not Known | 86.70% |
| Cerebral Palsy – Quadriplegic | 99.50% |
| Cerebrovascular Accident (Stroke) | 78.30% |
| Cerebrovascular Disease – Other / Type Not Known | 67.70% |
| Cervical Disc Lesion | 64.60% |
| Cervical Spondylosis | 65.90% |
| Cervix – Cancer Of | 84.30% |
| Charcot Marie Tooth Disease | 75.20% |
| Chondromalacia Patellae | 54.30% |
| Chondrosarcoma | 85.60% |
| Chorioretinal Disorders – Other / Type Not Known | 65.50% |
| Chromosomal Syndrome – Other Type / Not Known | 77.40% |
| Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) | 54.80% |
| Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Chronic Bronchitis/Emphysema | 66.30% |
| Chronic Secretory Otitis Media | 28.00% |
| Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media | 35.20% |
| Cirrhosis – Alcohol Induced | 64.80% |
| Cirrhosis – Autoimmune | 54.50% |
| Cirrhosis – Other / Type Not Known | 60.70% |
| Cleft Lip | 52.60% |
| Cleft Lip With Cleft Palate | 34.20% |
| Clotting Disorders – Other / Type Not Known | 49.40% |
| Club Foot (Talipes) | 51.90% |
| Coarctation Of The Aorta | 48.10% |
| Coeliac Disease | 27.70% |
| Cognitive Disorder Due To Stroke | 88.60% |
| Cognitive Disorders – Other / Type Not Known | 80.10% |
| Collagen And Elastic Tissue – Other Diseases Of / Type Not Known | 48.00% |
| Colon – Other Diseases Of / Type Not Known | 40.10% |
| Compartment Syndrome (Volkmann’s Ischaemia) | 66.70% |
| Complications Of Prematurity | 73.20% |
| Conduct Disorder (Including Oppositional Defiant Disorder) | 58.30% |
| Conductive Hearing Loss – Other Causes Of / Type Not Known | 31.50% |
| Conductive Hearing Loss Due To Trauma | 31.70% |
| Conjunctiva Cornea Eyelids And Lacrimal Apparatus – Other Diseases Of / Type Not Known) | 54.80% |
| Constipation | 28.40% |
| Conversion Disorder (Hysteria) | 79.10% |
| Corneal Ulceration | 51.50% |
| Coronavirus COVID-19 | 47.00% |
| Cortical Blindness | 92.30% |
| Creutzfeldt – Jacob Disease (CJD) | 100.00% |
| Crohns Disease | 30.70% |
| Crystal Deposition Disorders – Other / Type Not Known | 48.40% |
| Cushing’s Syndrome | 60.00% |
| Cystic Fibrosis | 61.30% |
| Deafness – Congenital | 76.20% |
| Deep Vein Thrombosis | 51.30% |
| Degenerative Neuronal Diseases – Other / Type Not Known | 89.10% |
| Dementia | 94.10% |
| Depressive Disorder | 50.70% |
| Dermatitis Herpetiformis | 33.70% |
| Dermatomyositis | 73.80% |
| Diabetes Insipidus | 45.70% |
| Diabetes Mellitus (Category Unknown) | 45.60% |
| Diabetes Mellitus Type 1 (Insulin Dependent) | 28.20% |
| Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 (Non Insulin Dependent) | 45.80% |
| Diabetic Neuropathy | 73.40% |
| Diabetic Retinopathy | 77.80% |
| Diplopia (Double Vision) | 45.70% |
| Disease Affecting Hearing & Balance – Other/ Type Not Known | 44.60% |
| Dislocation Of The Hip – Congenital | 77.90% |
| Dissociative Disorders – Other / Type Not Known | 69.90% |
| Disturbances Of Consciousness – Non-Epileptic – Other / Type Not Known | 55.70% |
| Diverticular Disease / Diverticulitis | 33.70% |
| Dizziness – Cause Not Specified | 39.60% |
| Down’s Syndrome | 99.60% |
| Drop Attacks | 62.40% |
| Drug Misuse | 56.90% |
| Dupuytrens Contracture | 54.00% |
| Dyslexia | 22.30% |
| Dyspraxia | 45.50% |
| Dystrophia Myotonica | 76.90% |
| Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified (EDNOS) | 60.90% |
| Eczema – Varicose | 28.40% |
| Eczema (Dermatitis) | 20.40% |
| Ehlers Danlos Syndrome | 69.20% |
| Elbow Disorders – Other / Type Not Known | 42.60% |
| Empyema | 62.80% |
| Endocrine Diseases – Other / Type Not Known | 45.30% |
| Endometriosis | 34.50% |
| Endometrium (Uterus / Womb) – Cancer Of | 86.20% |
| Entropion | 50.00% |
| Epidemolysis Bullosa | 57.80% |
| Epiphyseal Dysplasia – Multiple | 78.50% |
| Essential Tremor – Benign | 66.00% |
| Ewing’s Sarcoma | 88.00% |
| Extrinsic Allergic Alveolitis | 84.20% |
| Eye Movement – Other Disorders Of / Type Not Known | 48.70% |
| Eyes – Injuries To | 36.40% |
| Facioscapulohumeral Dystrophy | 82.90% |
| Factitious Disorders – Other / Type Not Known | 52.00% |
| Faecal Soiling (Encopresis) | 23.80% |
| Failure To Thrive | 75.00% |
| Fallots Tetralogy | 44.30% |
| Fibroids | 26.30% |
| Fibromyalgia | 62.70% |
| Fibrosarcoma | 78.00% |
| Fibrosing Alveolitis | 79.50% |
| Fistula In Anus | 32.10% |
| Food Intolerance | 21.00% |
| Fore Foot Pain (Metatarsalgia) | 44.30% |
| Fracture Complications – Other / Type Not Known | 66.60% |
| Fragile X Syndrome | 91.90% |
| Gallbladder And Biliary Tract – Other Diseases Of / Type Not Known | 45.10% |
| Gallstones | 34.30% |
| Gastrointestinal Tract – Other Cancers Of / Type Not Known | 90.70% |
| Gastrointestinal Tract – Other Diseases Of / Type Not Known | 40.40% |
| Generalised Anxiety Disorder | 42.70% |
| Generalised Musculoskeletal Disease – Other / Type Not Known | 62.30% |
| Generalised Seizures (With Status Epilepticus In Last 12 Months) | 58.70% |
| Generalised Seizures (Without Status Epilepticus In Last 12 Months) | 50.10% |
| Genetic Disorders Dysplasias And Malformations – Other / Type Not Known | 71.90% |
| Genitourinary Disease – Other / Type Not Known | 36.20% |
| Genitourinary Tract – Other Cancers Of / Type Not Known | 84.60% |
| Giant Cell Tumour – Malignant | 78.00% |
| Glaucoma | 63.10% |
| Glomerulonephritis | 55.40% |
| Glucose 6 Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) Deficiency | 52.90% |
| Goitre | 26.50% |
| Golfers Elbow (Medial Epicondylitis) | 38.30% |
| Gout | 45.40% |
| Granulomatous Lung Disease And Pulmonary Infiltration – Other / Type Not Known | 68.80% |
| Growth Hormone Deficiency | 54.10% |
| Guillain Barre Syndrome | 80.50% |
| Haematological System – Other Cancers Of / Type Not Known | 81.90% |
| Haemochromatosis | 51.20% |
| Haemolytic Disorders – Other / Type Not Known | 54.10% |
| Haemophilia A | 57.80% |
| Haemophilia B (Christmas Disease) | 64.30% |
| Haemorrhoids | 21.10% |
| Hallux Valgus /Rigidus | 39.70% |
| Head Injury – Cognitive And Sensorimotor Impairment | 78.70% |
| Head Injury – Cognitive Impairment | 74.10% |
| Head Injury – Sensorimotor Impairment | 70.60% |
| Headache – Other Causes Of / Cause Not Known | 30.20% |
| Hearing Loss – Mixed | 41.30% |
| Heart And Lung Transplantation | 76.90% |
| Heart Block | 52.10% |
| Heart Disease – Congenital – Other / Type Not Known | 53.40% |
| Heart Transplantation | 66.50% |
| Hemianopia | 62.20% |
| Hepatic Encephalopathy | 76.80% |
| Hepatitis – Chronic – Other / Type Not Known | 51.40% |
| Hepatitis B And D Infection | 33.80% |
| Hepatitis C Infection | 53.20% |
| Hereditary Multiple Exostosis (Diaphyseal Aclasis) | 68.50% |
| Hereditary Spherocytosis | 43.10% |
| Hernia | 44.80% |
| Herpes Zoster – Ophthalmic | 44.80% |
| Hiatus Hernia / Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease / Reflux Oesophagitis | 33.70% |
| Hip Disorders – Other / Type Not Known | 67.40% |
| Hirschprung Disease | 31.60% |
| HIV/Aids | 48.60% |
| Hodgkins Lymphoma | 78.40% |
| Huntington’s Disease | 85.00% |
| Hydrocephalus | 65.40% |
| Hydronephrosis | 39.40% |
| Hyperlipidaemia | 55.40% |
| Hypermetropia (Long-Sighted) | 48.10% |
| Hypermobility Syndrome | 53.40% |
| Hyperparathyroidism | 36.90% |
| Hypersensitivity Diseases – Other / Type Not Known | 36.80% |
| Hypertension | 47.10% |
| Hypertensive Retinopathy | 54.70% |
| Hyperthyroidism (Thyrotoxicosis) Including Graves Disease | 32.40% |
| Hypoparathyroidism | 36.80% |
| Hypothalamic And Pituitary Diseases – Other / Type Not Known | 43.40% |
| Hypothyroidism (Myxoedema) | 34.70% |
| Immune System – Other Diseases Of / Type Not Known | 51.70% |
| Inborn Errors Of Metabolism – Other / Type Not Known | 53.40% |
| Incontinence – Stress | 15.70% |
| Incontinence – Urge | 13.70% |
| Incontinence (Not Enuresis/Bed Wetting) – Other / Type Not Known | 20.60% |
| Infections – Other | 72.30% |
| Infections – Other / Type Not Known | 46.30% |
| Infectious Diseases – Other / Type Not Known | 59.60% |
| Inflammatory Arthritis – Other / Type Not Known | 67.10% |
| Interstitial Nephritis | 56.40% |
| Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) | 26.10% |
| Ischaemic Heart Disease – Other / Type Not Known | 56.90% |
| Juvenile Chronic Arthritis (Still’s Disease) | 69.20% |
| Keratitis | 46.50% |
| Keratoconus | 50.50% |
| Kidney – Cancer Of | 88.80% |
| Kidney Disease – Other / Type Not Known | 53.60% |
| Knee Disorders – Other / Type Not Known | 52.50% |
| Kyphosis | 68.50% |
| Labyrinthitis | 34.90% |
| Larynx – Cancer Of | 83.70% |
| Learning Disability – Other / Type Not Known | 89.40% |
| Leg Ulcers (Arterial) | 68.10% |
| Leg Ulcers (Venous) | 65.80% |
| Leukaemia – Lymphoblastic – Acute | 85.50% |
| Leukaemia – Lymphocytic – Chronic | 67.20% |
| Leukaemia – Myelogenous (Myeloid) Acute | 89.20% |
| Leukaemia – Myeloid – Chronic | 71.40% |
| Leukaemias – Other / Type Not Known | 73.40% |
| Ligamentous Instability Of Knee | 53.00% |
| Liver – Cancer Of | 93.30% |
| Liver Failure – Features Of – Other / Features Not Known | 68.40% |
| Liver Transplantation | 57.90% |
| Lower Limb – Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation Of | 55.60% |
| Lower Respiratory Tract – Other Diseases Of / Type Not Known | 59.40% |
| Lumbar Disc Lesion | 74.90% |
| Lumbar Spondylosis (OA Spine) | 75.70% |
| Lung Cancers – Other | 96.00% |
| Lung Transplantation | 82.00% |
| Lymphoedema | 71.60% |
| Macular Degeneration | 78.60% |
| Malaria | 61.50% |
| Malformations Of The Heart – Congenital – Other / Type Not Known | 50.00% |
| Marfan’s Syndrome | 62.40% |
| Mastoiditis | 25.90% |
| Melanoma | 86.60% |
| Menieres Disease | 41.90% |
| Meniscal Lesions | 50.20% |
| Mesothelioma | 98.90% |
| Metabolic Diseases – Other / Type Not Known | 53.10% |
| Metabolic Red Cell Disorders – Other / Type Not Known | 61.30% |
| Migraine | 26.70% |
| Mitral Valve | 49.90% |
| Mood Disorders – Other / Type Not Known | 51.60% |
| Motor Neurone Disease | 97.50% |
| Mouth/Tongue – Cancer Of | 84.30% |
| Movement Disorders – Other / Type Not Known | 74.00% |
| Multiple – Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation | 69.20% |
| Multiple Sclerosis | 78.90% |
| Munchausen Syndrome | 57.10% |
| Muscle – Other Diseases Of / Type Not Known | 74.40% |
| Muscular Dystrophy – Becker Type | 82.60% |
| Muscular Dystrophy – Duchenne | 97.00% |
| Muscular Dystrophy – Limb Girdle | 88.40% |
| Muscular Dystrophy – Other / Type Not Known | 84.10% |
| Musculoskeletal Disease – Regional / Localised – Other / Type Not Known | 56.00% |
| Myasthenia Gravis | 66.50% |
| Myeloma | 88.20% |
| Myocardial Infarction | 48.70% |
| Myopia (Short-Sighted) | 57.70% |
| Narcolepsy | 47.40% |
| Neck Disorders – Other / Type Not Known | 52.00% |
| Nephrotic Syndrome | 52.30% |
| Neuroblastoma | 76.80% |
| Neurofibromatosis | 61.10% |
| Neurological Disorders – Other / Type Not Known | 66.20% |
| Neuropathies – Other / Type Not Known Including Peripheral | 63.30% |
| Non Epileptic Attack Disorder (Pseudoseizures) | 59.20% |
| Non Hodgkins Lymphoma | 80.40% |
| Nystagmus | 65.80% |
| Obesity | 78.10% |
| Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) | 54.30% |
| Oesophageal Varices | 48.10% |
| Oesophagus – Cancer Of | 93.60% |
| Oesophagus Stomach And Duodenum – Other Diseases Of / Type Not Known | 41.90% |
| Old Age | 83.60% |
| Optic Atrophy | 84.40% |
| Optic Neuritis | 66.40% |
| Oral Allergy Syndrome | 11.60% |
| Orbital Cellulitis | 23.80% |
| Osgood Schlatters Disease | 41.50% |
| Osteoarthritis Of Hip | 73.80% |
| Osteoarthritis Of Knee | 64.20% |
| Osteoarthritis Of Other Single Joint | 56.50% |
| Osteochondritis | 69.00% |
| Osteochondritis Dissecans | 61.70% |
| Osteogenesis Imperfecta | 74.10% |
| Osteomalacia | 72.30% |
| Osteonecrosis | 74.70% |
| Osteoporosis | 67.60% |
| Osteosarcoma | 85.30% |
| Other Metabolic And Endocrine Disorders Of Musculoskeletal System | 61.80% |
| Otitis Externa – Chronic | 30.80% |
| Otosclerosis | 34.40% |
| Ovarian Cyst (Benign) | 39.70% |
| Ovary – Cancer Of | 91.10% |
| Ovary Uterus Cervix Vagina And Vulva – Other Diseases Of / Type Not Known | 37.60% |
| Paget’s Disease | 75.30% |
| Pain Syndromes – Chronic – Other / Type Not Known | 64.80% |
| Pancreas – Cancer Of | 96.70% |
| Pancreas – Other Diseases Of / Type Not Known | 51.00% |
| Pancreatitis – Chronic | 53.40% |
| Panic Disorder | 46.10% |
| Papulosquamous And Inflammatory Rashes – Other / Type Not Known | 31.90% |
| Paraplegia (Traumatic) | 97.80% |
| Parathyroid Diseases – Other / Type Not Known | 39.20% |
| Parkinson’s Disease | 83.10% |
| Parkinson’s Syndrome / Parkinsonism | 86.40% |
| Partial Seizures (With Status Epilepticus In Last 12 Months) | 47.60% |
| Partial Seizures (Without Status Epilepticus In Last 12 Months) | 40.20% |
| Patellar Dislocation – Recurrent | 58.70% |
| Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) | 46.80% |
| Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) | 41.40% |
| Pelvis – Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation Of | 67.90% |
| Pemphigoid | 36.60% |
| Pemphigus Vulgaris | 39.10% |
| Peptic Ulcer (Gastric And Duodenal)/Gastritis | 38.80% |
| Pericarditis | 40.80% |
| Peripheral Nerve Injury – Other / Type Not Known | 60.00% |
| Peripheral Venous Disease – Other / Type Not Known | 59.10% |
| Peritonitis | 71.70% |
| Personality Disorder | 61.80% |
| Perthes Disease | 67.20% |
| Phobia – Social | 44.70% |
| Phobia – Specific | 45.60% |
| Platelet Disorders – Other / Type Not Known | 43.60% |
| Pleura – Other Diseases Of / Type Not Known | 58.10% |
| Pleural Effusion | 60.90% |
| Pneumoconiosis – Coalworkers | 91.70% |
| Pneumoconiosis – Other / Type Not Known | 71.30% |
| Pneumonia | 60.30% |
| Pneumothorax | 38.20% |
| Poliomyelitis And Post Polio Syndrome | 86.20% |
| Polyarteritis Nodosa | 73.70% |
| Polycythaemia | 52.20% |
| Polymyalgia Rheumatica | 67.20% |
| Polymyositis | 80.90% |
| Porphyria | 60.60% |
| Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) | 58.20% |
| Posterior (Choroiditis) | 73.50% |
| Posterior Vitreous Detachment | 41.50% |
| Presbyacusis | 33.30% |
| Pressure Sores | 79.00% |
| Primary Biliary Cirrhosis (PBC) | 52.80% |
| Primary Cancer – Site Not Known | 95.10% |
| Primary Generalised Osteoarthritis | 74.00% |
| Prostate – Cancer Of | 75.80% |
| Prostatic Disease | 30.10% |
| Protozoal Diseases – Other / Type Not Known | 70.00% |
| Pseudogout | 69.60% |
| Psoriasis | 35.90% |
| Psychiatric Disorders Of Childhood – Other / Type Not Known | 66.70% |
| Psychotic Disorders – Other / Type Not Known | 68.10% |
| Ptosis | 34.30% |
| Pulmonary Embolus | 52.90% |
| Pulmonary Fibrosis – Other / Type Not Known | 81.80% |
| Pulmonary Valve Disease | 64.30% |
| Quadrantanopia | 64.00% |
| Raynaud’s Disease/Phenomenon | 41.60% |
| Rectal Prolapse | 35.30% |
| Rectum/Anus – Other Diseases Of / Type Not Known | 33.00% |
| Refractive Errors – Other / Type Not Known | 59.30% |
| Renal Calculi | 43.00% |
| Renal Failure – Acute | 68.70% |
| Renal Failure – Chronic | 71.10% |
| Renal Transplantation | 51.70% |
| Respiratory Tract – Other Cancers Of / Type Not Known | 84.80% |
| Retina And Optic Nerve – Other Diseases Of / Type Not Known | 76.80% |
| Retinal Artery Occlusion | 53.50% |
| Retinal Detachment | 63.20% |
| Retinal Vein Occlusion | 53.20% |
| Retinitis Pigmentosa | 87.20% |
| Retinopathy – Other / Type Not Known | 78.10% |
| Retts Disorder | 90.60% |
| Rheumatoid Arthritis | 74.70% |
| Rickets | 73.30% |
| Rosacea | 25.60% |
| Rotator Cuff Disorder | 42.10% |
| Sarcoidosis | 59.10% |
| Sarcomas – Other / Type Not Known | 87.20% |
| Schizoaffective Disorder | 71.50% |
| Schizophrenia | 69.70% |
| Schuermann’s Disease | 65.90% |
| Scleritis | 32.70% |
| Scoliosis | 61.30% |
| Scotoma | 53.80% |
| Seizures – Unclassified | 54.10% |
| Sensorineural Hearing Loss – Other Causes Of / Type Not Known | 43.90% |
| Sensorineural Hearing Loss Due To Trauma | 48.20% |
| Shoulder Disorders – Other / Type Not Known | 38.50% |
| Shoulder Instability | 43.50% |
| Silicosis | 52.40% |
| Sjogren’s Syndrome | 56.10% |
| Skin Cancers – Other / Type Not Known | 76.10% |
| Skin Disease – Other / Type Not Known | 38.80% |
| Sleep Apnoea – Obstructive | 28.80% |
| Slipped Upper Femoral Epiphysis | 68.40% |
| Small Bowel – Other Diseases Of / Type Not Known | 35.00% |
| Somatoform Disorders – Other / Type Not Known | 65.70% |
| Specific Learning Disorder – Other / Type Not Known | 67.50% |
| Speech Or Language Disorder | 58.40% |
| Spina Bifida | 85.40% |
| Spinal Cord Compression – Other Causes Of / Cause Not Known | 84.60% |
| Spinal Stenosis | 79.90% |
| Spine – Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation Of | 75.10% |
| Spondylolisthesis | 75.70% |
| Steatohepatitis – Non-Alcoholic (NASH) | 50.90% |
| Stokes Adams Attacks (Cardiovascular Syncope) | 71.90% |
| Stomach – Cancer Of | 91.30% |
| Strabismus (Squint) | 35.50% |
| Stress Reaction Disorders – Other / Type Not Known | 35.70% |
| Sudek’s Atrophy | 85.90% |
| Syncope – Other / Type Not Known | 51.30% |
| Syringomyelia / Syringobulbia | 80.50% |
| Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) | 62.80% |
| Systemic Sclerosis (Scleroderma) | 71.80% |
| Tachycardia | 40.80% |
| Temporal (Giant Cell) Arteritis (Headache) | 57.80% |
| Tendon Lesions | 40.90% |
| Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis) | 33.10% |
| Tenosynovitis | 46.70% |
| Testicle – Cancer Of | 65.00% |
| Tetraplegia (Traumatic) | 99.10% |
| Thalassaemia | 46.20% |
| Thorax – Injury/Fracture/Dislocation Of | 47.80% |
| Thyroid Diseases – Other / Type Not Known | 35.60% |
| Torticollis | 56.20% |
| Tourette’s Syndrome | 48.60% |
| Tracheo-Oesophageal Fistula/Atresia | 53.40% |
| Transient Ischaemic Attacks (Tias) | 51.00% |
| Transplant Rejection – Renal | 74.30% |
| Tricuspid Valve Disease | 43.40% |
| Tuberculosis | 57.30% |
| Tumours – Benign – Other / Type Not Known | 58.90% |
| Tumours Of Bone – Benign | 64.90% |
| Tumours Of The Gastrointestinal Tract – Benign | 52.40% |
| Tunnel Vision | 63.60% |
| Ulcerative Colitis | 23.20% |
| Upper Limb – Injury/Fracture/Dislocation Of | 45.40% |
| Upper Respiratory Tract – Other Diseases Of / Type Not Known | 54.90% |
| Urinary Overflow | 21.10% |
| Urinary Tract Infection | 32.10% |
| Urticaria | 24.10% |
| Uterine Prolapse | 31.40% |
| Vasculitis – Other / Type Not Known | 65.50% |
| Venous Insufficiency – Chronic | 61.90% |
| Ventriculoseptal Defect (VSD) | 53.40% |
| Viral Diseases Excluding Hepatitis And Poliomyelitis -Other / Type Not Known | 61.00% |
| Vision – Other Diseases Affecting / Type Not Known | 70.50% |
| Visual Field Defects – Other / Type Not Known | 70.70% |
| Vitreous Disease – Other / Type Not Known | 71.50% |
| Vitreous Haemorrhage | 65.40% |
| Von Willebrand’s Disease | 43.00% |
| Whiplash Injury | 42.90% |
| Wilms Tumour | 55.20% |
| Wilson’s Disease | 68.30% |
| Wrist And Hand Disorders – Other / Type Not Known | 42.10% |
| Writer’s Cramp | 29.40% |
Success rates for PIP claims by condition
How long does PIP case manager take?
After you have had your assessment, the healthcare professional will complete their report. They will then send it to a DWP case manager who will decide whether or not to award you PIP and, if it is awarded, at what rate and for how long. The average time for a PIP decision is 12 weeks from the date of the claim.
Why would PIP call me after assessment?
The purpose of the phone call is to ensure the claimant understands the reason why PIP has not been awarded or has been awarded at a lower rate and to answer any questions or concerns that the claimant may have about the decision. DWP believes that this approach will minimise the number of disputes.
How long is PIP application processing?
Clearance times (median weeks) to July 2022 – 
Source: PIP Statistics to July 2022, Tables 1A & 1B Clearance times can be volatile reflecting a variety of factors including customer demand, operational resource and timescales for different parts of the process, which are sometimes altered to actively manage workflows or in response to external situations such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Clearance times for normal rules new claims:
- are currently (July 2022) 18 weeks “end to end” (from registration to a decision being made) and 13 weeks from the AP referral to the decision
- are shorter than the same period a year ago (23 weeks and 16 weeks respectively in July 2021)
- peaked in August 2021 at 26 weeks “end to end” (from registration to a decision being made) and 21 weeks from the AP referral to the decision, partly because claims that had been allowed a longer deadline for return of PIP 2 form during the period late February and late May 2021 were reaching clearance, and partly because priority in some areas was given to claims that had been waiting longer for processing due to COVID-19 disruption
Clearance times for normal rules DLA reassessment claims:
- are currently (July 2022) 21 weeks “end to end” (from registration to a decision being made) and 15 weeks from the AP referral to the decision
- are shorter than the same period a year ago (28 weeks and 21 weeks respectively in July 2021)
- reflected distortions for most of the period since April 2020 due to COVID-19 measures and low volumes of DLA reassessment activity
Clearance times for SREL claims:
are 3 working days for new claims from registration to decision. There are too few DLA reassessment SREL claims for a median to be meaningfully interpreted.
Information on clearance times and outstanding times (time already waited for cases where DWP has yet to make a decision), including regional breakdowns, can be found in National Tables 1 – 3 accompanying this release.
How much back pay will I get from PIP?
From no Daily Living award to standard award rate – backdated payments of up to £5,064. From standard Daily Living award to enhanced award rate – backdated payments of up to £2,498.
What happens if PIP is refused?
March 2022 –
| Can you spare a few minutes? We would be grateful if you could tell us what you think of this information by completing our, We will use your feedback to seek funding and improve our guides and make sure they are as helpful as possible. |
An appeal is when a panel of three experts who do not work for the DWP will look at your claim to see if the right decision was made. Appeals are much more likely to be successful than mandatory reconsiderations. This guide will help you. If your illness or disability has got worse since the date of your application and you were refused benefit altogether, you could make a new claim.
- If you were given some benefit but not as much as you think you should get, you need to ask for your benefit to be reassessed (the proper name for this is a supersession).
- Whether or not you are entitled to PIP is based on how your illness and treatment affects you and what help you need with very specific things.
When you are thinking about your claim and whether or not you want to appeal, you have to look at what the criteria actually are (as set out in the law) – not what would be fair. PIP points system Personal Independence Payments are worked out using a points system.
For example, if you need help from another person to wash your hair, you get 2 points, if you need help to get into the shower or bath you get 3 points, etc. You only score one set of points from each activity (for example, washing), so you should get whichever gives you the most points. You need 8 points to get the standard rate of the daily living component, or 12 points for the enhanced rate.
Similarly you need 8 points for the standard rate of the mobility component and 12 points for the enhanced rate. If you haven’t checked what rate you should be getting yet, use, It will help you work out if the DWP has given you the right decision. And if they haven’t, the tool helps you to write a really good letter asking for a mandatory reconsideration and setting out your case using the PIP points system.
- I didn’t get anything” Some people in this situation feel like they should just give up, others feel furious.
- The DWP often don’t apply the criteria correctly.
- Challenging the decision can take a long time, but everybody should get what the law says they are entitled to.
- Remember you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Start by using our, ‘I had to reclaim and they gave me less than they did before’ You may still have a good case for a higher amount. Be sure that you understand how you qualify for PIP. Use our to check what award you think you should have got. If it’s not the same as you were awarded, use our tool to request a Mandatory Reconsideration.
If they don’t change their decision you should appeal. ‘I had to move over to PIP from DLA and they gave me less than they did before’ Lots of people in your situation find they get a lower award or no award at all when they move to PIP. The PIP system is less generous (and some would say less fair) than DLA.
There is no equivalent rate of PIP to the low rate care component of DLA, and the rules for the mobility component are very different. But you may still have a good case for a higher amount – many people in your situation are getting a higher award after they appeal.
Be sure that you understand how you qualify for PIP. Use our tool to check what award you think you should have got. If it’s not the same as you were awarded, use the to ask the DWP to look at it again. If they don’t change their decision you should appeal. Some people in this situation feel like they should just be happy they got something.
But everybody should get what the law says they are entitled to, and the DWP often don’t apply the criteria correctly. Use our to check what award you think you should have got. If it’s not the same as you were awarded, use the tool to request a Mandatory Reconsideration.
- If they don’t change their decision you should ask for an appeal (so you don’t miss the deadline) and then try to see an adviser.
- If you don’t have a strong case, you can always withdraw your appeal.
- It is now much harder to find advice and help with your benefits than it used to be.
- You should expect that you will have to do most of the work yourself (or with help from your friends or carers – don’t worry, this guide will show you what to do, and how to do it).
But if you can get a bit of advice to help you work out what rate you should be getting it will be really helpful. That said, if you do find someone who offers to help you ask for a mandatory reconsideration, complete your appeal form, write a ‘submission’ for you (this is a letter to the appeal panel that explains why you are entitled), or even come with you on the day, take it! Since the beginning of Covid-19, many advice services are offering appointments via telephone, email, or videocall as well as, or instead of, face-to-face.
Use to find the best options near you. Enter your postcode and select ‘welfare benefits’ from the drop down menu and search. This will tell you about any Citizen’s Advice, law centres, or independent advice agencies in your county. (Beware – it misses out ones in your area but in another county or borough.
If you live near a county border, definitely check you there isn’t a closer option by following the advice below).
- If they say they are too busy.
- If the organisation you contact says they are too busy, ask them to keep your name on a waiting list, or to tell you how long before they might be taking on new clients.
- Ask if they know any other organisations you should contact for help if they cannot give you an appointment themselves.
- Remember that you are likely to have to wait a long time for the appeal hearing (6 -12 months, depending on where you are in the country) so you do have a bit of time to find an organisation which might be able to help you prepare for the appeal hearing.
If that doesn’t bring up a service that you can get to, check with if there is a Bureau that helps with benefits problems near you. Many now offer advice over the telephone. Check if your local council has a welfare rights service. If you didn’t find their details in Advice Local search, phone the council and ask for ‘welfare rights’, check the website, or ask in your local library.
- Check if there is a near you.
- See if can help you.
- There are sometimes services that you can access through your GP, social worker, or community centre.
- There’s no harm in asking – so call your GP, and your social worker, or community centre if you have one, and ask if there is a service for you.
- Some charities provide advice services for particular groups – for example, the support people who have served in the armed forces and their families and even represent at appeal.
Check if there is a charity that provides benefits advice to people with your illness or impairment. If they provide information on their website about appealing or claiming PIP it may also be very useful as it will usually show how people with similar symptoms to yours have proved their entitlement.
If they don’t have a guide to appealing – ask them to link to this one). If you have nowhere else to turn, try your MPs caseworker. These are not usually expert benefits advisers but they will often be familiar with the problem and might well be able to help you. (You could point them towards this guide).
Step 1 You get a letter telling you the result of your claim for PIP. You have been told that you are not entitled to anything or you think you have been given the wrong amount You have one month from the date on the letter to ask for a ‘mandatory reconsideration’.
- This is where they look at the decision again.
- If one month has already passed you can still ask for a reconsideration, see If you have missed the deadline in Section 7 found below ).
- Step 2 Ask the DWP to look again at their decision.
- This is called a Mandatory Reconsideration.
- Use our to write a really good letter to the DWP that sets out your case.
The DWP will look at your claim form again, the face-to-face assessment report, and any other evidence they have, to see if they will change the decision. Step 3 The DWP will send you two copies of their reconsideration decision. You will need a copy if you wish to appeal.
If their decision has been changed and you are happy with it, you can stop here. But if it has not, don’t be put off. You have 1 month to ask for an appeal. (If one month has already passed you can still ask for an appeal, see If you have missed the deadline in Section 7 found below ). Step 4 Ask for an appeal.
You can do this online or using the appeal form and posting it. You can use the wording from the letter generated by our Mandatory Reconsideration Tool to help you make your case. See for our advice. Step 5 The PIP office will send you and the HMCTS an explanation of why they gave you the award that they did.
Don’t be put off by the size of it. Step 6 You need to prepare for your appeal and, if you can, send in more information about your difficulties. See for details. Step 7 You will be told the date of the hearing. If you have any further evidence about your difficulties that you haven’t yet sent, send it as soon as possible.
And always have a copy with you on the day. Step 8 Your appeal will be heard by an independent panel, called a Social Security and Child Support Tribunal. They will make a new decision. See If you were successful (and most people are), you will usually receive your money in 4-6 weeks.
- How to ask the DWP to look at their decision again You need to ask the DWP to look at their decision again (called a ‘mandatory reconsideration’) within one month of the date on the letter they sent you about your PIP claim.
- If one month has already passed you should still ask them, see If you have missed the deadline in Section 7 found below,
We have created a tool to help you write a really good letter asking them to look again at your claim. Use it here:, Please tell what happens We want to find out more about the impact of our PIP mandatory reconsideration request tool and appeal guide.
- To help us with this, we would be hugely grateful if you would come back and,
- Technically you can ask for a mandatory reconsideration over the phone, but it is definitely better to do it in writing.
- Only ask for a mandatory reconsideration over the phone if you are about to miss the one-month deadline.
If you do this, follow up your request in writing using our tool. If you have any more evidence that you think will help (for example, a letter from your doctor, social worker, support worker, or carer) send that too. If you don’t, it is rarely worth waiting to get some as few decisions are changed at this stage.
- You don’t have to discuss your claim with the DWP.
- Government information suggests that you should contact the DWP to discuss your claim before you ask for a mandatory reconsideration.
- You don’t have to and there is no reason to.
- Usually the DWP will also phone you and tell you why they think they have made the right award.
Remember any advice they give you about whether it is worth asking for a mandatory reconsideration or appeal is likely to be incorrect. We suggest you get independent advice or follow the information in this guide. Don’t be put off! When you ask for the DWP to look at their decision again, people often seem to be told that they need to provide further medical evidence in order to have a chance of getting the decision changed.
This isn’t true. DWP staff might not change the decision at the reconsideration stage without new medical evidence, but appeal tribunals often do. Anything that gives information about your support or care needs can be relevant. It is also very possible to win an appeal even without any further evidence or information.
What next? Unfortunately they are no time limits to how long a mandatory reconsideration should take. But if you have not heard back after 6 weeks, you should ring them and find out what is happening. If you have not heard after two months, you could make an official complaint for the unreasonable delay.If they have changed their minds, congratulations! Your benefit will be backdated to the date you claimed.
If they didn’t change their decision, or they did but still didn’t give you the amount you think you are entitled to, remember that you can and should appeal. You need to tell them you want to appeal within one month. Don’t be downhearted if they didn’t change their minds – they often don’t, even where it is clear that they are wrong.
Most decisions are not changed at this stage, but are changed when you go to appeal. If you have missed the deadline If you have missed the deadline to ask for a mandatory reconsideration, you can still ask but they don’t have to accept it. Explain that the delay was unavoidable or a result of your disability (for example, if you were unable to deal with it until now because you need help to deal with your post).
- If they refuse to deal with your mandatory reconsideration you can still appeal.
- Similarly if you miss the deadline to appeal, you can ask for an appeal anyway.
- You will need to explain your reasons for missing the deadline.
- The DWP then have one month to object to your reasons for missing the deadline.
If they do not object, your appeal continues. If they do object, a Judge decides whether to allow your appeal even though it is late. Your appeal will only definitely not be accepted if 13 months have passed since you were sent the decision. You can ask for an appeal online or you can use a paper form.
- can help you to ask for an appeal online if you are in England, Wales or Scotland.
- They can help with access to a device, data or provide guidance and reassurance on how to use the appeal form.
- If you would like their help, you can:
- They will respond within 2 working days.
If you have not used our tool, look at your decision notice and the list of activities and descriptors in, Add each activity you don’t think you have scored the right number of points for, and for each explain all of the difficulties that you have with that activity and what help you need (remember it doesn’t matter that you don’t get any help).1) You need to explain what you disagree with and why.
- If you used our to produce a letter, and your argument is still the same, you can just write ‘please see my mandatory reconsideration request’ and send another copy.
- You probably have a copy in your email, or it will be saved in your Advicenow account).2) If your appeal is not within the time limit, you should appeal anyway but explain why the delay was unavoidable or a result of your disability (for example, if you were unable to deal with it until now because you need help to deal with your post, or you have been particularly unwell).
See If you have missed the deadline in Section 7 found above.3) Choose to attend the hearing. You will be asked whether you want to attend a hearing or whether you want the case to be decided on the papers alone. Almost everybody wants to choose the paper hearing because it seems less scary.
However, you are much more likely to win if you have a chance to speak to them. Don’t worry, it will not be nearly as frightening as you might think. Since the beginning of Covid many hearings are happening via video – so you may not have to actually ‘go’ anywhere. When you ask for an appeal online, you are asked if you would like to be able to save the appeal and continue later.
In order to do this you will need to set up an account. If you say yes and provide your email address, you will be sent an email enabling you to register for the Manage Your Appeal service. This service enables you to keep track of how your appeal is progressing, and you can use it to upload evidence (including audio and video evidence if you want to).
- It will send you texts or emails to let you know that the DWP have respondedto your appeal, to confirm evidence has been received, and when your hearing date has been scheduled.
- See for other ways to sign up.
- Please tell us what happens We want to find out more about the impact of our PIP mandatory reconsideration request tool and appeal guide.
To help us with this, we would be hugely grateful if you would come back and, What next? The HMCTS will send a copy of your appeal to the DWP and ask them to explain how they came to their decision. The DWP must do this within 28 days, although they can ask for an extension.
You will receive a copy of their response. It is often around 150 pages. Don’t be put off by the size of it. Most of it is just your application form and copies of the letters you already have. But keep it safe. You will need it to prepare for your hearing. You should start preparing now. The next section explains everything you need to do.
If the DWP call you The DWP have been ringing some people at this stage or before the hearing and offering them an award in return for dropping their appeal.Sometimes the DWP say that you might not win at an appeal or put pressure on you to accept their offer.
Advicenow and other charities took DWP to court about this practise because it is not fair. Now, if they make you an offer of a better award after you have asked for an appeal they are supposed to explain that you can accept the higher award and then appeal again (without having to ask for a reconsideration).
In most cases, this would be the best thing for people to do. If you get a phone call and they do not explain about your right to appeal the new award,, How to prepare for the hearing There are a lot of things for you to do over the next few months. So it is important to start preparing as soon as you can.
| The guidance below assumes you are preparing for a face-to-face hearing. Since the beginning of Covid, more and more hearings have been by video and many people like them better. All of the advice, except about actually travelling to the hearing applies equally to video hearings. |
When will the hearing be? Usually you won’t get told the date of the hearing until 2 weeks before (you should be given at least 14 days notice unless you agreed to be given less on the form). However, it is useful to know how long you have to prepare for your appeal.
- Some people are having to wait 6-9 months.
- Manage your appeal It is a good idea to sign up to the Manage your appeal service.
- You may have registered for this service if you submitted your appeal online.
- If not, you can register by calling 0300 123 1142, Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm.
- This service enables you to keep track of how your appeal has progressed, and you can use it to upload evidence (including audio and video evidence if you want to).
It will send you texts or emails to let you know that the DWP have responded to your appeal, to confirm evidence has been received, and when your hearing date has been scheduled. If you asked for an appeal online and gave them your email address, you will have received an email with a link to help you sign up.
- If you need help to access Manage your appeal, you can get help from,
- They can help with access to a device, data or provide guidance and reassurance on how to use the appeal form.
- If you would like their help, you can
- They will respond within 2 working days.
The papers from the DWP Look at the big pack of papers that you were sent by the DWP explaining why they made the decision they did. Many people get very confused by the inclusion of relevant test cases at the beginning. Don’t let them put you off. If you don’t have time to become an expert on all the legal ins and outs of PIP decisions, ignore these.
Don’t be shocked if the assessment report is full of inaccuracies, This seems to happen horribly frequently. We have heard of completely incorrect diagnoses being recorded, easily verifiable physical conditions being ignored or incorrectly recorded, and records of whole conversations that never occurred.
Many people find that the assessment ignored or minimised their mental health conditions. If you find this has happened to you, you are right to be angry about it – it is terrible – but don’t take it personally. It happens to a lot of people. Do not allow it to upset you too much.
Appeal panels usually know how bad assessment reports are and so it is easy to get them set aside in favour of other evidence. If you are angry about it and have the energy for two things, put in a complaint to the organisation who did the assessment. For most claimants, that is either or, You can then show a copy of your complaint to the tribunal.
If you only have the energy for one thing though, focus on your appeal as that is the only thing that will change your award. You can still make a complaint after your appeal hearing. The most important part is the report from the medical assessment. Read through it and look for anything you don’t agree with.
- Did the assessor ask you the right questions and correctly record your answers?
- Do they have all of your conditions listed?
- Have they misunderstood something you said you used to do as something you are able to do now?
- Are there things in there that didn’t happen or don’t reflect your conversation at all?
- If your health condition or disability is better or worse on different days, did the assessor understand that?
Make a note of all the things that are wrong. If you can, say why they are wrong. You can include this in your statement to the tribunal. This is very useful as the wrong decision you have been given is probably based on this report. It may also be useful to familiarise yourself with the numbering of the papers from the DWP.
At the hearing, the panel sometimes refer to certain pages and it will be easier and less stressful for you if you are able to keep up. Getting evidence For most people, the thing that is of most help is written evidence from their GP or other medical professional. The most useful evidence will explain how your illness or disability affects you, and the help you need (paying particular attention to the descriptors that you meet).
Make sure the professional you are asking for evidence understands this. Look at, This is a guide for your doctor, social worker, or anybody else writing evidence for you. Print it out and mark the particular activities and descriptors you believe you meet.
When you ask anybody for evidence to support your appeal, show them these pages. It will help them to write evidence that will be really helpful to you. The best evidence will come from people who know you well and who understand your situation. This could be your GP, or social worker or community psychiatric nurse, a paid carer or support worker, a personal assistant, your occupational therapist, somebody who works at a day centre you go to, or somebody else.
You are appealing the decision the DWP made on a particular date (on the top of the letter). You need to prove how your illness or disability was at that time, not how it is now. Write the date of the decision you are appealing in the little blue box on before you ask anybody for evidence.
- Then show them it.
- It is important not to be offended if the evidence embarrasses you.
- For example, if it says that sometimes you appear not to have washed or eaten properly.
- They are just trying to ensure you get all the help you are entitled to.
- Paying for medical evidence GP’s and other medical professionals are allowed to charge for evidence and many do.
If your doctor suggests that he or she will charge you, tell them that it doesn’t need to be terribly long, and that it could be hand-written if this is quicker. Reassure them that it will only take the time of an appointment. Show them so that they are sure of what you need from them.
- If they insist on charging you, instead ask them for the last two years of your medical records.
- They will give you this for free and it may contain some useful evidence.
- Evidence from your support worker, personal assistant, carer or anybody that helps you If there is somebody who helps you a lot (this might be somebody you pay, or who helps you at college or work, or it might be your partner, a family member, or a friend), they may be able to write some very useful evidence too.
Ask them to write a letter to the tribunal panel explaining what help they give you and how often. Show them the section for doctors and other professionals on How to write useful evidence for PIP appeals – it will help them to remember everything. It can be very useful for this person to come to the hearing with you – so that the panel can ask them questions.
They may be asked to wait outside until their evidence is needed – so you may need to be prepared to go in alone at first. Diary You should think about keeping a diary of the help that you need each day. It will help the tribunal panel to get a proper understanding of your situation. It is particularly helpful if your illness or disability is not the same every day.
Keep a diary for a month if you can (but a shorter time will also be helpful). It can be very brief. For example – ‘Monday – Joints and back very painful today. Needed help to fasten my bra, and put socks and shoes on, as I couldn’t bend down. Marie had to help me downstairs’.
Include everything that is connected to the ‘daily living activities’ that entitlement to PIP is based on. If you get help from somebody and find this sort of thing hard, you could ask them to keep a diary of the help they have given you instead (as an alternative to the letter – see above). Is there any other evidence that you have? There may be useful evidence you already have or can easily get.
Maybe you have letters from Doctor’s or support services already that support your case. Write a statement If you (or someone who is helping you) are good with writing, you should think about writing a statement for the tribunal. These can be very useful as they set out all your points, which means that you don’t have to remember everything to say on the day.
They also give the panel time to think about what you have said and why you should be getting more before they meet you. For more advice on how to write a statement and what to put in it, see, You can also read Spencer’s statement and see what he put in his. What to do with the evidence Read all the evidence through – does it support your case? If it doesn’t, you don’t have to send it to the panel (but if they ask if you had any evidence you didn’t send them, you have to tell the truth).
If you don’t think the evidence is useful it may be worth going back to the person who wrote it and discussing it with them. Is there anything they can add? If you have got useful evidence, upload a photo of it using the Manage your appeal service or photocopy it and send it into the HM Courts and Tribunal Service before your hearing.Send it as soon as you can and always take paper copies with you on the day.
- Sending the evidence in advance is useful because it maximises the chance of the DWP changing the decision in your favour) On the day of your hearing, a sk the clerk if the panel received your evidence, and if not he or she will give them to the panel before your hearing starts.
- How will you attend the hearing? If it is a video hearing, check you have what you need for it to go smoothly.
HMCTS have made a, If your hearing is in person, the letter you receive about the hearing will usually give you details of public transport links and parking. At some venues, you can book an accessible parking spot if you phone them in advance. If you need a taxi, ask them to book one for you.
This will usually be easier than arranging one yourself and they will pay. Work out how you will get there and leave yourself plenty of time. You won’t want the stress of worrying about being late. How can you afford to go to a face-to-face hearing? You can claim travel expenses for the day of the hearing if you use public transport or travel by car.
You can also claim for a meal if you are away for more than five hours. If you have to take time off work you may also be able to claim some expenses for loss of earnings. And if you have had to pay a carer or childminder you can claim expenses up to the National Minimum Wage for the time you have been away.
Before you go to your hearing, check what the current rules on expenses are on, The clerk will help you fill in a claim form when you go to the hearing. Make sure you take receipts (and if you have lost earnings, a letter from your employer confirming this). Contact the tribunal before the hearing if you need help.
Many hearings happen over video now. However, some are still face-to-face. Whatever kind of hearing you have you should prepare in a similar way. HMCTS have made a to help you understand what a video hearing will be like. Your hearing might be postponed In some areas, hearings are often postponed.
Usually, if this has happened, you will get a phone call earlier in the day. If the hearing is scheduled for a date or time you cannot attend Email or call the tribunal centre and ask for another date as soon as you can. Don’t put it off or just do nothing about it – they are usually extremely helpful.
You may have to explain why you can’t go and you should have a very good reason, like a hospital appointment. If you leave it until the last minute or don’t give a good reason, they may not change the day and the appeal might happen whether you are there or not.
- Don’t delay.
- If they refuse to change the date, you should do everything you can to move your other appointment.
- Remember the panel do not work for the DWP.
- They are here to see that you get the benefit if you can show you are entitled to it.
- Usually the three members of the panel will be nice and easy to talk to, and will just want to get a full picture of your illness or disability and the help you need.
Try to answer their questions fully. If it feels like they are asking you the same question repeatedly, they probably are and are trying to check that your answers are consistent. So make sure you are consistent, don’t vary your answer just to move on.
- The DWP have a right to send somebody to your appeal to explain why they made their decision.
- Don’t worry about this though.
- If they do send someone, it will not be the person that made the original decision about your claim.
- Remember it is YOUR appeal.
- If you get upset you can ask for a short break.
- In the unlikely event that the panel are considering reducing your existing award (for example because you appealed the decision not to give you the enhanced rate of daily living and the panel feel that you may not be entitled to any daily living award at all), the judge will give you warning and ask if you want a few minutes to consider your options.
This is very rare. But if it does happen to you, ask for the hearing to be stopped and explain that you wish to withdraw the appeal. If you do this, the Tribunal is very unlikely to take away the benefit you get at the moment.
| Face-to-face hearings If you have a face-to-face hearing, when you arrive at the tribunal centre you will usually be shown into a waiting room when you arrive at the tribunal centre. You might have to wait here for a little while. While you are here, the clerk will explain what will happen and will take any evidence you have brought with you. When the panel are ready for you, you will be called into the room. The room the hearing is in will look like a rather boring office and everybody is wearing normal clothes. When you go in, there will be a big table in front of you. You (and anyone who goes with you) will sit at one side of the table and the panel will sit on the other side. The person that sits in the middle of the panel is the Judge. They are legally qualified and should know a lot about benefits. One of the other panel members is a doctor, the other is someone who knows a lot about disability, and may have a disability themselves. The panel should introduce themselves and explain what will happen. At the end of the hearing, you will be asked to go to the waiting room while the panel discuss your case. This can take up to half an hour but usually takes between 10-15 minutes. You will then be asked back into the room and told the decision. They will give you a written outline of their decision as well. Sometimes the panel will not be able to make a decision quickly. If this happens, they will post it to you instead. It should arrive within a week. |
Christina ‘s story When I received the letter telling me when my hearing would be, I became extremely anxious and thought that I should prepare myself for the worst. I couldn’t even begin to imagine that the panel at the hearing would be any more helpful than the DWP or the assessment people.
In the weeks leading up to my hearing I had a final chance to submit any more evidence I had to support my claim. I didn’t feel that I could go through any more, but then I remembered my little mantra that “courage is not not being scared, but that something is more important than fear”. I went through my box file to find evidence that would support my claim.
It included letters from previous employers detailing my poor performance in various jobs, debt letters, and warning letters from the police that supported what I had said about the symptoms of my disabilities. I sent them everything I could find that would help.
A few days before my hearing a support worker helped me write a statement using the Advicenow guide to take with me to the tribunal. It went through each of the descriptors I met in detail. When I got there I could not believe how helpful and friendly the tribunal staff were. An officer came and asked me if I had brought anything more with me that I would like to give to the tribunal.
He took my statement and went away to photocopy it for the panel and brought it back to me. He reassured me that they would not take long. When they called me in the judge asked me if I was feeling okay and if I wanted a drink of water. They asked me a few questions.
What if nothing has changed on PIP review?
If nothing’s changed – You’ll need to write that things have stayed the same since your last assessment. Still describe how you’re finding each task or activity. The DWP might need more information to help them make a decision about your PIP award. They might ask for a face-to-face assessment or for more information from your GP or healthcare professional.
keep your PIP award the same and extend the length of the award reduce or remove the amount of your PIP award increase the amount of your PIP award
Section 2 is about managing treatments or monitoring your health condition. It includes questions about your treatments, therapy, operations and medication. Even if nothing’s changed since your last assessment, you should still answer these questions so the DWP has an up to date record.
