In recent years, more and more people have found themselves in extremely difficult circumstances: loss of employment, chronic illness, long-term health conditions (physical or mental), increased cost of living, and the knock-on effects of all this. Many of these people are now relying on DWP-administered benefits and particularly PIP for essential support.

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Rising unemployment or insecure work means people may lose their steady income and lack a safety net.

Illness or disability (whether new, worsening, or long‐standing) means normal daily living and mobility costs increase, but ability to work may reduce.

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The cost-of-living squeeze (housing, energy, food) means that even with benefits the margin is extremely tight.

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More people are making claims to PIP: for example an analysis found that new claimants had roughly doubled in a year. Disability Rights UK+2Institute for Fiscal Studies+2

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The backlog of claims, reviews and assessments means delays, uncertainty and hardship for many who are supposed to be supported. Disability Rights UK+1

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As one report puts it, “Disabled people are missing out on an estimated £24 million every month because of delays to PIP reviews.” Disability Rights UK+1

 

So this is not just “benefits as usual” for many people this is survival, it’s maintaining dignity, it’s securing the minimal support that allows them to cope with very real pressures.

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How the system is meant to work!

 

DWP and PIP – the official story

The Department for Work & Pensions administers a wide range of welfare benefits in the UK: employment support, disability benefits, pensions, etc. GOV.UK+1

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PIP is a benefit to help with the extra costs of living with a long-term illness, disability or impairment, specifically for working-age people aged 16-64. GOV.UK+1

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A claimant for PIP must show how their condition affects them in everyday living (e.g., cooking, washing, managing treatments) and/or mobility (ability to move around).

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There are initial claims, mandatory reconsiderations (if someone disagrees with a decision), reviews of awards (to check ongoing eligibility) and changes of circumstances. GOV.UK+1

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Official statistics to July 2025 show that since April 2013 when PIP began, 9.0 million claims have been registered and 8.7 million have been cleared. GOV.UK

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In an ideal system:

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Someone whose health deteriorates or whose job is lost can make a claim quickly, get a decision, and receive the support they are entitled to.

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Reviews happen in a timely way so people with worsening conditions are not left waiting.

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The system respects dignity, minimises bureaucracy, and ensures people aren’t left in limbo.

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The support enables people to live with less strain, maybe access work if capable, get the mobility or daily living support they need.

The harder truths

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Here are some of the things that are less often covered in a simple “benefits help” narrative.

Backlogs and delays

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For PIP award reviews in England & Wales: as of 31 May 2024, there were 392,000 award reviews outstanding. At current rates, the backlog could take almost 10 years to clear. Disability Rights UK

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Many claimants have to wait for months for decisions: e.g., “some claimants must wait 50 weeks to be assessed” for PIP. Yahoo News

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These delays are particularly damaging: people may have no certainty about whether their award continues or is reduced or stopped, and may have mounting costs while waiting.

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High overturn/appeal rates:

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For PIP reviews: of the clearances, 31% led to a change in award. GOV.UK+1

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That suggests the initial decisions (or review decisions) may often not reflect the full reality of claimants’ situations.

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Worsening health and rising demand

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The evidence suggests that the number of people with health problems that “limit their daily activities a lot” increased from 8.5 % (3.5 m) to 9.6 % (4.0 m) from 2021 onwards. Institute for Fiscal Studies

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Thus the rise isn’t simply about more claims being made, but more people needing support.

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Rigid review system and risk of losing entitlements

 

According to one source, of PIP reviews: ~9% of claimants had their award decreased and ~21% had it disallowed altogether. Benefits and Work

 

The process for reviews or reassessments is complex and can be very stressful for claimants whose condition might have worsened but whose award is being reconsidered.

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The human cost

 

When decisions are delayed or wrong, people struggle: with paying bills, accessing mobility aids, or even just living. The system may exacerbate rather than alleviate hardship.

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Advocacy groups describe this as “outrageous that any benefit claim should take 10 years to process”. Disability Rights UK

 

Transparency and trust issues

When claimants hear of bonuses or incentives for assessors, or feel the process is adversarial, it undermines trust.

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The complexity of the process, the paperwork and the waiting can sometimes feel like the system is working against rather than for the claimant.

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Policy changes and uncertainty

 

There are ongoing policy pressures on disability benefits like PIP: for example tighter eligibility rules, potential future cuts, increasing scrutiny of mobility awards. The Guardian

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In uncertain times, claimants fear changes will reduce their support when they are already vulnerable.

 

Benefit culture vs reality

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There is a narrative sometimes that benefits are easy to get, or that “everyone qualifies”, but the data show many claims are disallowed, many awards reduced, many appeals succeed — which means the system may be stricter or mis-calibrated. For example, the success rate for PIP was around 40%. Disability Rights UK+1

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Why this matters

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For individuals: The difference between being awarded PIP (or the correct rate) or being delayed/lost can mean serious hardship — not being able to access mobility aids, needing to cut back on essentials, or losing independence.

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For families: A partner or carer may need to fill in gaps while waiting for decisions, reducing their own work, or causing stress and strain.

For society: Rising numbers of people needing support means the welfare system is under pressure; delays and incorrect decisions increase costs (appeals, tribunal time) and reduce trust in the system.

 

For policy: If people with genuine need are being blocked, delayed or under-supported, the system fails its purpose.

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Check out the DWP Page for more information and resouces - Here

Check out the PIP Page for more information and resouces - Here