A new parliamentary report has issued a stark warning over the severe health risks faced by disabled people due to 'unacceptable' delays in processing Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claims.
Report Highlights 'Unacceptable' Waiting Times and Health Deterioration
The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) found that some applicants are forced to wait over a year for a decision on their vital financial support. The committee criticised the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for lacking a short-term plan to tackle these backlogs.
Evan John, Policy Advisor at the national disability charity Sense, voiced serious concern, citing evidence that the application process itself harms claimants. "Almost half of disabled people with complex needs said applying for benefits made their condition worse because of how difficult and exhausting the process is," he stated.
He added that the report proves accessing the benefits system is "far from easy" and called for the DWP to work directly with disabled people to improve the service.
Delays Push Vulnerable People into Poverty and Debt
The report explicitly warns that these protracted delays can force disabled individuals into debt and poverty. James Taylor, Director of Strategy at Scope, emphasised that disabled people already face higher living costs, making timely PIP payments a critical lifeline.
"PIP is a lifeline for disabled people. The cost of living is still sky high and disabled people are far more likely to live in poverty. At the very least the government must get its administration right," Taylor said.
Lucy Bannister, head of policy at Turn2us, labelled the situation a national disgrace, stating, "In the sixth richest global economy, we should all get support if we become sick or disabled. Making disabled people wait months for help is unacceptable."
Government's Digital Overhaul Faces Significant Delays
In a further blow, the government has pushed back its own targets for modernising the system. A plan to process 20% of PIP claims online by 2026 will now not be achieved until 2029, according to the report.
The PAC declared this timescale "far too long for claimants to have to wait for improvements" and demanded the DWP clarify when more people will see a better service through its £647 million Health Transformation Programme.
Campaigners pointed to Scotland's system as a potential model. Bannister suggested that "a less complicated and more accessible application for disability support, as in Scotland, would help reduce waiting times, stop more disabled people from falling into poverty and help more people live independently."
The DWP responded by highlighting its efforts to reform the welfare system. A spokesperson said: "We're fixing the broken welfare system we inherited... We've redeployed around 1,000 work coaches to help sick or disabled people." They added that the ongoing Timms Review is examining PIP to "make sure it is fit and fair for the future."
