The proposal aims to ensure disabled people are informed and equipped when applying for PIP
A petition is urging the government to update the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) application form to include a key figure: the success rate of appealing a PIP decision. The PIP application process is known for being arduous, with just over half of the applications succeeding.
Yet, the rate of successful appeals against PIP decisions stands at an impressive 69% in favour of the claimant. Brian Donnelly, the initiator of the petition, highlighted: “We believe the Government should make it clear on the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) application form that 69% of people who appealed their PIP decision in 2023/24 won at a tribunal.
“The latest full financial year data shows that in 2023/24 there were 46,803 PIP appeals cleared at tribunal hearings. Of these, 32,222 (69%) were decided in favour of the applicant.”
Interestingly, this percentage has actually decreased slightly from previous years, as Benefits and Work reported that the appeal success rate for PIP decisions was at 70% in late 2023. They also pointed out that the average time for an appeal case to be heard was around 25 weeks.
At present, the petition has garnered approximately 200 signatures and is yet to elicit a response from the government. However, there is still over a month left before the deadline passes.
To challenge a PIP decision, unsuccessful applicants can follow the instructions provided in the decision letter that outlines whether they can contest the decision. If eligible, they will initiate the process with mandatory reconsideration.
Mandatory reconsideration generally needs to be requested within a month of the date on your decision letter. There’s no charge for this request, but you may need to provide additional evidence to justify why your application should be reassessed.
This could include fresh medical evidence, reports or care plans from specialists, bank statements or updated payslips. Once a decision has been made, you’ll receive a mandatory reconsideration notice detailing the department’s revised decision, along with the reasons and evidence it was based on.
If you’re still dissatisfied with the outcome, you can now appeal to the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal. This body is independent of the government and your case will be heard by a judge.
You must lodge an appeal within a month of the date of your mandatory reconsideration notice. Typically, you can’t appeal to the tribunal until you receive this mandatory reconsideration notice. More information about appeals can be found on the Gov.uk website.
