74,000 PIP Claimants Could Be Waiting for 10 Years for Payment Increase: Are You Affected? Yes, over 74,000 claimants could be waiting up to 10 years for a higher personal Independent Payment award due to a backlog of planned award reviews. The delay means tens of thousands of individuals are currently receiving lower payments than they are entitled to.
PlP helps with the extra cost of living pressure associated with those suffering from a long-term illness, disability or mental health conditions. The payments are made up of two parts- one part for living and another part for mobility, for each component, there is a standard and an enhanced rate. The maximum you can receive from the government benefit is £184.30 a week.
Benefit claimants could face a staggering 10 years wait for a potential raise due to a severe backlog in review, it has been revealed, that an estimated 74000 personal independence Payments claimants are stuck in limbo, potentially receiving a lower amount than they are entitled to, There are a total of 392,000 outstanding PIP reviews in England and Wales, according to benefits and work. Freedom of Information requests exposed the Department for Work and Pensions struggle to chip away at the mountain of reviews.
Why 74,000 PIP Claimants Could Be Waiting for 10 Years?
The main reason for the long time to complete PIP award reviews is the high demand for PIP. we are seeing unprecedented numbers of new claims being made. We are prioritising these claims to manage these demands and ensure cases are made payable as soon as possible.
Some PIP claimants with severe conditions that are unlikely to change may be subject to a” light touch review”. This means that their award will only be reconsidered after 10 years.
To be Eligible for PIP, You must:
- Be 16 or more than 16 year old
- Have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability
- Have difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around
- Satisfy a qualifying period of 3 months and a prospective test of 9 months
PIP has two parts: A daily living component and a mobility component. you might be able to claim one or both components. The amount you receive depends on how difficult you find these tasks.
Analysing DWP statistics on the outcome of planned award reviews over the last five years the backlog includes:
- 74,480 claimants getting a lower award of PLP than they are entitled to
- 27,440 claimants getting a higher award than they are entitled to
- 78,400 claimants who are no longer entitled to PIP, in the view of the DWP.
Benefits and work conclude that “It is hard to see how this situation can be resolved soon.
“In the meantime, tens of thousands of claimants will continue to receive yet another annual communication from the DWP telling them that their review has not yet taken place and that their current award will remain in payment.”
It is outrageous that any benefit claim should take 10 years to process and is completely unacceptable. In August 2025, citizens’ advice research estimated that disabled people were missing out on an estimated £24 million every month because of delays to PIP reviews.
Who`s Affected?
If the backlog of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) award review takes 10 years to clear, it could have many negative effects on claimants, including:
Financial strain
Claimants may receive a lower award than they are entitled to which can cause financial strain, and financial distress and many of them rely on these payments for essential daily living costs.
Stress and Anxiety
Claimants may experience increased stress and anxiety especially if they depend on PIP for necessary daily living costs.
Uncertainty
The claimant may left in prolonged uncertainty about their financial future. .The high demand for personal Independence Payment claims and the large number of new claims being made has led to long wait times for a payment increase due to the backlog of PIP award reviews.
The DWP says that the backlog is due to high demand for PIP and that they are prioritizing new claims to ensure they’re put into payment as soon as possible.
Some other things to note about PIP Include:
- To be eligible for PIP, you must be 16 or over, have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability, and have difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around
- Claimants who have very stable needs or high-level needs may be awarded an ongoing award with a ” light touch: review.
- To claim PIP you can fill in and return a form asking for your personal information such as your address and age. you will then be sent a form asking about your disability or condition.
What should we do for PIP claimants who could be waiting for 10 years for a payment increase?
- Hiring more staff – The DWP is hiring more case managers, healthcare professionals and assessment providers.
- Prioritizing new claims – The DWP will extend the current award if needed to ensure they are put into payment as soon as possible.
- Extending current awards – DWP will extend current awards if needed to ensure that people continue to get their payments.
- Improving the assessment process – The DWP is streaming the review process and investing in better training for assessors.
Conclusion
The main reason for the long time to complete PIPaward reviews is the high demand for PIP. We are seeing unprecedented numbers of new claims being made. It is unacceptable that more than 74,000 individuals may have to wait up to 10 years for the payments they rightfully deserve.