Long waits for disability benefit claims unacceptable, MPs say

Some people are waiting more than a year to have their disability benefit claims processed, which could lead to them falling into debt and poverty, according to MPs. The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) aims to process 75% of new Personal Independence Payment (Pip) within 75 working days, but only 51% of claims were processed within the timeframe in the last fiscal year. According to a study by the cross-party Public Accounts Committee (PAC), the department was providing "unacceptably poor service levels. The DWP reported that at the end of October, the average time taken for a Pip claim to be decided on was 16 weeks.

According to a spokesperson, the department had always strived to respond as soon as possible, and a continuing investigation into Pip will ensure that "it is safe and fair for the future. The most common disability benefit in England and Wales is Pip, which is paid to people with a long-term physical or mental illness. It is not linked to someone's income or whether they work, and it gives additional assistance with living expenses. The number of people who believe Pip has risen in recent years, with the benefit paid to around 3. 7 million people.

According to the PAC's study, Pip claims to be processed were unacceptable, with some instances of people waiting for more than a year. The DWP told the committee that these experiences were not included in its reports, but that it acknowledged that this was a genuine problem that needed to be addressed. The department is experimenting with an online application system in a few postcodes, which, according to the department, has typically reduced processing time for claims by 20 days. It had previously told the committee that it expected to process up to 20% of Pip claims using the new online service by 2026 but has since announced that it will hit the target by 2029. According to the survey, claimants are likely to suffer for a longer time before being able to get a better service.

Our committee received promises three years ago that changes would have come by now,

the committee's chairman, Conservative MP Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, said. "This is clearly not appropriate for our constituents, who are pushed into debt or poverty by a department that is unresponsive to their needs.

The paper also raised questions about the shortening of the first meeting between Universal Credit claimants and a work coach from 50 to 30 minutes. It warned that

claimants with more complicated needs will not receive the assistance they need

without responding to government's actions. In the aftermath of a major rebellion by Labour MPs last year, the government scrapped plans that would have made it impossible for people to claim Pip. According to the government, the plans would have saved the government £5 billion a year by 2030. Rather, it published a report into Pip, led by Minister of Social Security and Disability Sir Stephen Timms, which is expected to publish by the fall. The government has stated that the aim of the investigation is to ensure Pip is right and fit for the future rather than generating new savings plans.

We're rebuilding the broken welfare system we inherited by giving claimants the tools they need to move into safe, secure jobs and out of poverty,

a DWP spokesperson said.

We've sent 1,000 work coaches to assist sick or disabled people who have been left behind,

said the most optimistic employment reforms in a decade. "These improvements are being introduced as we upgrade outdated technologies with our exciting £647 million modernization program.

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