PIP appeal success rate
In April to June 2026, tribunals decided 66.9% of the PIP appeals they cleared at a hearing in the claimant's favour: 8,781 of 13,123. The Ministry of Justice marks that quarter provisional. At the step before, mandatory reconsideration, DWP changed the award in 15.3% of cases for decisions made in 2025/26.
Source: Ministry of Justice: Tribunals statistics quarterly: April to June 2026, published 10 September 2026. Sheet SSCS_3, Personal Independence Payment.
These come from two departments counting different things, so this page shows them separately. The tribunal figure counts appeals by the quarter a tribunal cleared them. The DWP figures follow a year's decisions through mandatory reconsideration and appeal.
At tribunal: 66.9% in the claimant's favour
The Ministry of Justice counts 13,123 PIP appeals cleared at a hearing in April to June 2026. Tribunals decided 8,781 in the claimant's favour and upheld DWP's decision in 4,302. The two don't add up to the total because its count of appeals cleared at a hearing includes some withdrawn on the day.
- Decided in the claimant's favour
From April to June 2023 the Ministry of Justice counts appeals withdrawn or struck out on the day of a hearing as cleared at the hearing, so the line before and after the dashed mark isn't like for like. The Ministry of Justice says to take care comparing hearing figures across the change.
Source: Ministry of Justice: Tribunals statistics quarterly: April to June 2026, published 10 September 2026. Sheet SSCS_3. Quarters run April to June (Q1) through January to March (Q4) of each financial year.
Show the last 8 quarters as a table
| Quarter | Cleared at a hearing | In the claimant's favour | Upheld | Share in favour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| April to June 2026 (provisional) | 13,123 | 8,781 | 4,302 | 66.9% |
| January to March 2026 | 13,622 | 9,248 | 4,341 | 67.9% |
| October to December 2025 | 11,613 | 7,605 | 3,971 | 65.5% |
| July to September 2025 | 11,941 | 7,836 | 4,069 | 65.6% |
| April to June 2025 | 12,483 | 8,199 | 4,253 | 65.7% |
| January to March 2025 | 13,423 | 9,036 | 4,351 | 67.3% |
| October to December 2024 | 12,139 | 8,370 | 3,745 | 69.0% |
| July to September 2024 | 11,299 | 7,871 | 3,402 | 69.7% |
At mandatory reconsideration: 15.3% changed
Before you can appeal, you usually need to ask for a mandatory reconsideration. Your decision letter says if you can appeal straight away. For decisions made in 2025/26, 144,450 people asked for one. DWP changed the award in 21,550 and left it the same in 119,090.
| Year | First decisions | MRs asked for | Award changed | Share changed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 553,090 | 132,940 | 34,780 | 26.3% |
| 2022/23 | 766,500 | 153,050 | 17,830 | 11.7% |
| 2023/24 | 796,520 | 144,160 | 17,480 | 12.2% |
| 2024/25 | 829,150 | 146,750 | 16,250 | 11.1% |
| 2025/26 | 720,870 | 144,450 | 21,550 | 15.3% |
Source: DWP: Personal Independence Payment statistics to July 2026, published 15 September 2026. Table 5B (ii), quarters added up by financial year. Share changed is out of MRs with a decision.
Following a year's appeals through to the end
DWP also follows appeals from the first decision to the tribunal. The latest year where nearly all appeals have an outcome is 2023/24: 51,560 appeals were lodged on decisions made that year.
- 24,720 were decided in the claimant's favour at a hearing, and 14,010 upheld: 63.8% of those decided at a hearing went the claimant's way.
- 10,190 lapsed, which in DWP's statistics means DWP changed its decision in the claimant's favour before the hearing.
- 1,630 were withdrawn or struck out.
For 2024/25, only 78.4% of appeals have an outcome so far, so its figures will still change as the rest are decided. This page quotes a year once at least 95% of its appeals have an outcome. Some people whose award changed at mandatory reconsideration went on to appeal too, so DWP says the two can't be added together.
| Year | Appeals lodged | In favour at hearing | Upheld at hearing | Share in favour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019/20 | 48,520 | 24,140 | 8,490 | 74.0% |
| 2020/21 | 31,190 | 12,740 | 6,180 | 67.3% |
| 2021/22 | 43,720 | 22,130 | 9,890 | 69.1% |
| 2022/23 | 57,940 | 31,060 | 14,680 | 67.9% |
| 2023/24 | 51,560 | 24,720 | 14,010 | 63.8% |
Source: DWP: Personal Independence Payment statistics to July 2026, published 15 September 2026. Table 5B (ii). MRs and appeals counted to 30 June 2026.
Deadlines
You usually have one month from the date on your decision letter to ask for a mandatory reconsideration. You can ask later if you have a good reason, such as a stay in hospital or a bereavement.
Appealing is free. Appeal to the tribunal within one month of getting your mandatory reconsideration decision. If you appeal later you'll have to explain why, and the appeal might not be accepted.
Sources: gov.uk: Mandatory reconsideration; gov.uk: Appeal a benefit decision. Checked 11 October 2026.
How long a mandatory reconsideration takes is on how long a PIP claim takes. To see how the descriptors score, try the PIP points calculator.
Questions people ask
What percentage of PIP appeals are successful?
In April to June 2026, tribunals decided 8,781 of the 13,123 PIP appeals they cleared at a hearing in the claimant's favour: 66.9%, according to the Ministry of Justice. The rate has stayed between 65% and 72% in every quarter since April 2022.
How often does a PIP mandatory reconsideration change the decision?
For decisions made in 2025/26, DWP changed the award in 15.3% of the mandatory reconsiderations it decided, and left it the same in the rest. A change can mean a new award or a different rate. Before you can appeal, you usually need to ask for a mandatory reconsideration. Your decision letter says if you can appeal straight away.
How long do I have to appeal a PIP decision?
Appealing is free. Appeal to the tribunal within one month of getting your mandatory reconsideration decision. If you appeal later you'll have to explain why, and the appeal might not be accepted. The month counts from the date of the mandatory reconsideration decision.
What does it mean when a PIP appeal lapses?
DWP's statistics call an appeal lapsed when DWP changes its decision in the claimant's favour after the appeal is lodged but before a tribunal hears it. The appeal then ends without a hearing.
Where can I get help with a PIP appeal?
Citizens Advice and Scope give free advice on PIP, including mandatory reconsideration and appeals. Some local welfare rights services can help prepare for a tribunal hearing too. Appealing to the tribunal itself is free.
Where these figures come from
Tribunal figures: the Ministry of Justice's Tribunals Statistics Quarterly main tables, sheet SSCS_3, the Personal Independence Payment column. “Decision in favour” divided by “Cleared at Hearing”.
Mandatory reconsideration and appeal figures: DWP's PIP statistics, table 5B (ii), which follows initial decisions made after a PIP assessment. It leaves out award reviews and changes of circumstances. DWP rounds its counts to the nearest 10.
We are not the DWP and can't see your claim. For help with a mandatory reconsideration or appeal, Citizens Advice and Scope give free advice.