Nearly half of all Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claims were denied last year, according to new figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Of the 721,100 PIP claims processed in 2023/24, around 46%—or 332,800—were rejected. This data was disclosed by Work and Pensions Minister Sir Stephen Timms in response to a parliamentary inquiry from Liberal Democrat MP Steve Darling.

Darling asked for details on how many initially rejected PIP claims were later approved upon appeal. Timms revealed that 13,500 claimants, roughly 4% of those initially denied, were later granted the benefit following an appeal. He also noted that as of September 2024, 18,900 appeals were still pending, meaning the figures could change. He cautioned that the data remains unpublished and may be subject to future revisions.

The high rejection rate has intensified criticism of the DWP, with a recent Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report raising serious concerns about how disability benefit claims are handled. Many disability charities have long argued that the PIP assessment process is flawed.

Shelley Hopkinson, head of policy at Turn2us, condemned DWP delays, saying poor communication and processing issues cause financial hardship for disabled individuals who rely on these benefits. She emphasized that payment delays make it difficult for claimants to afford essentials, negatively affecting their health and ability to work.

Hopkinson urged the Labour government to prioritize an accessible, fair, and efficient social security system. Turn2us also called on the government to collaborate with disabled individuals to reform the system to better meet their needs.