The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is making it significantly harder for people to successfully claim a key disability benefit, according to alarming new statistics. The success rate for new Personal Independence Payment (PIP) applications has fallen dramatically over the past year, leaving many vulnerable claimants without vital support.
Sharp Decline in PIP Award Rates
Latest official data, covering the quarter up to 31 October 2025, shows a worrying trend for those applying for PIP. According to analysis by the disability forum Benefits and Work, just 38% of new PIP claims resulted in an award during this period. This marks a steep drop from a 44% success rate recorded in the same quarter a year earlier.
The DWP's own statistics reveal that, as of the end of October 2025, there were 3.9 million claimants entitled to PIP in England and Wales. This figure represents a 1% increase from the total recorded at the end of July 2025. Of those receiving the benefit, 37% were on the highest level of award.
Breaking Down the DWP's Latest Figures
The quarterly data provides a detailed snapshot of the PIP application journey. Between July and October 2025, the department registered 210,000 new claims and cleared 170,000. During the same period, there were 34,000 reported changes of circumstances, with 30,000 of these processed.
The figures also highlight the ongoing transition from the old Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to PIP. By the end of October 2025, 1.9 million people in England and Wales had their DLA reassessment claims to PIP cleared. Three-quarters of these individuals were aged between 16 and 64 when PIP was introduced on 8 April 2013.
Other key data points from the quarter include:
- 25,000 registrations and 20,000 clearances for DLA reassessments.
- 140,000 planned award reviews registered and 220,000 cleared.
- 65,000 Mandatory Reconsiderations (MRs) registered and 67,000 cleared.
Implications for Claimants and the Appeals Process
The falling success rate is a major concern for disability advocates. Benefits and Work further warned that in the quarter to October, over 6% of awards were disallowed entirely, while a further 5% were decreased following review. This places additional pressure on the mandatory reconsideration and appeals system, as more claimants challenge unfavourable decisions.
The DWP statistics track the entire PIP customer journey, from initial registration through to assessment, decision, award review, and any subsequent challenge. The data encompasses clearance times and outcomes at each stage, painting a comprehensive picture of an increasingly difficult claims landscape.
For hundreds of thousands of people relying on this essential financial support, the dramatic drop in successful new claims signals a tightening of eligibility and a more stringent assessment process by the DWP.
