New DWP PIP figures show a disaster waiting to happen

New Personal Independence Payment (PIP) figures have once again demonstrated why the Labour Party government’s plans to scrap the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Work Capability Assessment (WCA) could have devastating consequences for chronically ill and disabled people.

Crucially, data obtained by Freedom of Information (FOI) request has revealed that the DWP has denied PIP at mandatory reconsideration (MR) to more than half a million Universal Credit claimants getting the health element.

What’s more, when appeals are factored in, it shows how the department is routinely making the wrong decision.

DWP denying PIP to Universal Credit and ESA claimants en masse

The Canary requested data on the number of claimants in in receipt of LCW, LCWRA, and ESA who have:

Had a Mandatory Reconsideration (MR) for Personal Independence Payment (PIP). This was to include whether it found in their favour or not.
Lodged an appeal for Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
Had a lapsed appeal for Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
Had an appeal for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) go to tribunal. Once again, including whether it was overturned or not.

The FOI revealed that the DWP has refused PIP to more than half a million Universal Credit health element claimants who’ve gone to MR. This amounted to over three-quarters of Universal Credit LCWRA claimants who’d applied for MR.

Significantly however, of those that go on to appeal, it’s almost the exact percentage in reverse. Notably, the damning figures also unveiled that the department has got its initial PIP decision and subsequent MR wrong in as many as 76% of cases.

Specifically, 62,800 (25%) of Universal Credit LCWRA claimants had lapsed appeals. This is when the DWP revises its decision in the claimants favour without going to tribunal. A further 128,650 (51%) of Universal Credit LCWRA claimants applying for PIP were successful at tribunal. So combined, it means the DWP has awarded PIP (or higher amounts of it) to 76% of Universal Credit LCWRA claimants who’ve appealed.

In short, the DWP is denying PIP to claimants in Universal Credit’s Limited Capability for Work Related Activity (LCWRA) group in 78% of cases. But, 76% of the time, claimants on Universal Credit’s health element are then winning PIP appeals against the DWP.

DWP appeals reveal its routine PIP award failings

Of course, fewer people have the health, time, finances, and knowledge to navigate the appeal process. And the stark reversal in percentages only illustrates precisely why this is a problem. It suggests that the DWP is denying PIP to Universal Credit health element claimants who should be getting it, in the vast majority of cases.

Similarly, the DWP has been rejecting PIP applications at MR for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) Support Group claimants too.

Nearly three-quarters were unsuccessful at MR (259,380 ESA Support Group claimants). Yet, when they took it to appeal, it was a similar story to the Universal Credit LCWRA claimants. Notably, 34,010 appeals lapsed (22.5%) and 86,980 claimants won at tribunal (57.5%). In total then, the DWP had made mistakes at initial award and MR in 80% of cases ESA Support Group claimants took to appeal.

Once again then, DWP PIP award decisions were overwhelmingly reversed at this stage.

The data in full…

The full figures the DWP disclosed were as follows:

ESA Support Group

90,580 claimants successful at PIP MR.
259,380 claimants unsuccessful at PIP MR.
1,260 claimants withdrew their PIP MR before getting a resolution.
34,010 claimants had lapsed PIP appeals.
A further 86,980 were successful at PIP appeal.
Meanwhile, 25,920 were unsuccessful at PIP appeal.
4,330 withdrew or the DWP struck out their PIP appeal.

ESA Work Related Activity Group (WRAG)

5,100 claimants successful at PIP MR.
20,360 claimants unsuccessful at PIP MR.
60 claimants withdrew their PIP MR before getting a resolution.
1,970 claimants had lapsed PIP appeals.
A further 6,630 were successful at PIP appeal.
Meanwhile, 2,210 were unsuccessful at PIP appeal.
250 withdrew or the DWP struck out their PIP appeal.

Universal Credit Limited Capability for Work (LCW)

11,900 claimants successful at PIP MR.
67,970 claimants unsuccessful at PIP MR.
240 claimants withdrew their PIP MR before getting a resolution.
4,820 claimants had lapsed PIP appeals.
A further 13,910 were successful at PIP appeal.
Meanwhile, 6,960 were unsuccessful at PIP appeal.
670 withdrew or the DWP struck out their PIP appeal.

Universal Credit LCWRA

148,800 claimants successful at PIP MR.
525,490 claimants unsuccessful at PIP MR.
2,360 claimants withdrew their PIP MR before getting a resolution.
62,800 claimants had lapsed PIP appeals.
A further 128,650 were successful at PIP appeal.
Meanwhile, 52,790 were unsuccessful at PIP appeal.
6,390 withdrew or the DWP struck out their PIP appeal.

The data applied to Universal Credit and ESA caseloads as of 28 February 2025.

Ramifications for plans to scrap the Work Capability Assessment

A previous FOI disability rights activist ‘LurgeeLiz’ (X) submitted showed that the DWP had refused PIP’s Daily Living component to 319,000 Universal Credit LCWRA claimants and 154,000 ESA Support Group claimants. Notably though, the DWP had disclosed the figures according to November 2024 caseloads. As such, it’s not possible to fully equate data.

Nevertheless, the new FOI findings bolster the point LurgeeLiz made with her statistics.

Obviously, this is that the data also has significant ramifications for upcoming plans to scrap the WCA as well.

The Labour Party government had affirmed its intention to follow through on the plan previous Conservative governments had laid the groundwork for.

The Canary and disability rights groups have been warning about the serious issues with this since the Tories first floated the idea. Notably, the concept of scrapping the WCA and aligning it with the PIP assessment is nothing new. It’s an idea previous Conservative governments have considered in some form since as far back as 2019.

In May 2023, the Canary’s Steve Topple highlighted the devastating impact of this plan. He explained how nonsensical it is to condition LCWRA on qualifying for PIP:

The WCA and PIP criteria are completely different, as are the benefits. The DWP may be asking people for the same information about their illnesses or impairments. But the context is completely different. The WCA looks at what sick and disabled people can do regarding work. The PIP health assessment looks at what support people need. To combine both these assessments is simplifying people’s health. But more often than not, people’s health is not simple at all.

Former DWP boss Liz Kendall has since confirmed these plans in the government’s flagship Pathways to Work Green Paper. When she introduced this in March, the Canary pointed out that:

The DWP’s current statistics don’t paint a rosier picture. As of August 2024, 780,250 Universal Credit claimants getting the health-related part also claimed PIP or DLA. There were around 1.4 million in the LCWRA group – meaning that just little over half of Universal Credit claimants eligible for the health part were also getting PIP or DLA.

In short, figures have little changed from this.

Denying disabled people support? On brand for the DWP

The new data points to the fact that in all likelihood, the DWP will refuse many future applications for Universal Credit LCWRA and ESA’s Support Group. In particular, this is because firstly, as this data clearly shows, the DWP has denied PIP to many who currently get Universal Credit’s health and ESA’s health elements. Secondly, it has only been through appeals that the DWP has eventually recognised claimants eligibility. So when the WCA aligns with PIP’s assessment, many chronically ill and disabled people could also start to lose out on Universal Credit LCWRA and ESA Support Group as well.

Most importantly though, it highlights that many should be getting both health and disability benefits. But, under the new set-up, they likely won’t get either.

It’s more proof that this Labour Party government’s DWP agenda will continue to run roughshod over chronically ill and disabled communities. Because when it speaks of ‘reform’ to the welfare system, you can guarantee it’s actually gunning for more benefit cuts.

Feature image via the Canary.