PIP Payment Delays Leave Disabled Claimants at Risk of Poverty

Growing Crisis in Disability Benefits System

A damning new report has exposed the severe impact of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) delays on vulnerable disabled people across the United Kingdom. MPs have warned that disabled people are facing ‘unacceptable’ wait times of months for benefit claims to be processed, with some people waiting more than a year for PIP claims to be processed, leaving thousands at risk of falling into debt and poverty.

The Public Accounts Committee’s findings paint a troubling picture of a system failing those it was designed to support. Only 51% of claims were processed within the target timeframe of 75 working days in 2024/25, despite the department’s aim being to process 75% of new PIP claims within that time. This critical failure in service delivery is having devastating real-world consequences for disabled individuals who depend on this financial support.

Financial Hardship and Broken Promises

The unacceptable waits some people face for their PIP to be processed can cause them to get into debt and push them into poverty. Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, Chair of the Public Accounts Committee, expressed frustration that the Committee received reassurances three years ago that improvements would have manifested by now, but are now told that they are a further three years off, risking constituents being pushed into debt or poverty by a Department unresponsive to their needs.

The scale of the crisis is significant. Approximately 920,000 applications are submitted annually based on registration figures from 2023, with demand continuing to rise. The working-age PIP caseload is expected to climb to 4.2 million people within five years, costing £34.1 billion annually.

Long-Term Solutions Remain Distant

Whilst the Department for Work and Pensions has pointed to modernisation efforts, meaningful improvements remain frustratingly distant. Three years ago, the DWP said it would process up to 20% of PIP claims through a new online system by 2026, but officials now admit the target will not be met until 2029. The DWP acknowledges the issue but lacks a short-term plan to address it.

For the hundreds of thousands of disabled people relying on PIP to manage the additional costs of daily living, this timeline represents years more of uncertainty and potential hardship. The Committee’s report underscores an urgent need for immediate action to prevent further suffering amongst the UK’s most vulnerable citizens.