The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced a significant reduction in waiting times for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claims, cutting the average processing period from 26 weeks to 20 weeks. This six-week improvement aims to clear the backlog for new claimants and ensure quicker access to financial support.
Ministerial Response to Parliamentary Question
The update came from DWP minister Sir Stephen Timms in a written response to Damien Egan, Labour MP for Bristol North East. Mr Egan had inquired about the outstanding backlog for Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and PIP applications, as well as measures to speed up processing times.
Sir Stephen Timms, Labour MP for East Ham, stated: "We are committed to ensuring people can access financial support through Disability Living Allowance for children (DLAc) and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in a timely manner." He emphasised that reducing customer journey times is a priority for the department, with ongoing efforts to improve service delivery.
Recruitment and Clearance Statistics
Between October 2024 and March 2025, the DWP recruited and redeployed over 100 case managers to enhance clearance times for new DLAc claims. From 1 August 2025 to 31 March 2026, the department cleared approximately 185,900 DLAc new claims, with 68.3% (126,900) processed within 45 working days. During this period, the percentage of claims cleared within planned timescales surged from 4.7% to 90.7%.
Reduction in PIP Clearance Times
Sir Stephen reported a steady decrease in PIP clearance times since August 2021. The latest statistics show that the average end-to-end journey has dropped from 26 weeks in August 2021 to 20 weeks by the end of January 2026. He added: "In addition to prioritising new claims, we have been working closely with our assessment suppliers to increase assessment capacity and reduce waiting times."
The Timms Review co-chair highlighted specific measures, including the recruitment and training of additional health professionals and a series of process improvements to streamline the assessment journey. These efforts are designed to ensure that claimants receive their payments more swiftly, alleviating financial pressures for disabled individuals across the country.
