A powerful committee of MPs has issued a scathing condemnation of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), accusing it of providing an "unacceptably poor" service to disabled people. The Public Accounts Committee warns that chronic delays in processing Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claims are pushing thousands of vulnerable citizens towards financial crisis, debt, and poverty.
Chronic Delays and Broken Promises
The report highlights that, despite a government target to process most PIP claims within 75 days, only half were completed within this timeframe in the last financial year. Shockingly, the committee found examples of claimants having to wait over a year for a final decision on their vital financial support. Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, the Committee Chair, stated such waits were "simply not good enough" for constituents.
Furthermore, plans to modernise the entire benefits system have stalled badly. Key efficiency targets, originally set for 2026, have now been pushed back until at least 2029. This means claimants face waiting a further three years for improvements that were first promised three years ago.
Wider System Under Strain
The criticism extends beyond PIP. The committee also slammed cuts to initial work coach meetings for Universal Credit claimants, which have been reduced from 50 to 30 minutes. With jobcentre resources already stretched, this risks leaving those with complex needs without the essential guidance required to find work or navigate the system.
Additional concerns were raised about the DWP's capacity to take on new responsibilities. The department is slated to begin delivering adult skills and careers advice by October 2026. Experts fear that, given existing staff shortages and a tight schedule, the DWP will struggle to integrate these new duties effectively.
A Call for Urgent Action
The committee's report delivers a stark verdict: the government's arguments for benefit reform are incoherent when set against the reality of shrinking support for those who need it most. Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown emphasised that the department was "unresponsive to their needs," directly putting people at risk.
The report concludes with a demand for urgent clarity from the DWP on what concrete actions it will take to fix its outdated infrastructure and modernise its services. Without immediate intervention, the MPs warn, the human and financial cost of these systemic failures will continue to grow.
