Context
Data shared by Dermot Devlin from Disabled People Against Cuts shows £50 million spent on PIP appeals in the past year, with over 70% of those appeals successful. This highlights concerns about the accuracy and fairness of initial assessments leading to high appeal success rates.
Question
£50 million has been spent on PIP appeals in the past year alone, and over 70% of those appeals have been successful, indicating that many people are being wrongly denied benefits initially. What steps are Ministers taking to improve the system and make it more accessible for those undergoing the appeal process?
Answer from The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Andrew Western)
I would like to have a conversation with the hon. Gentleman about the assessment process and mandatory reconsideration process, but I do not recognise those statistics. Appeals are down by 16% on the previous year to January 2025. Around 20% of applications undergo mandatory reconsiderations, yet only around 5% of these are successful.
Not addressed: Specific actions to improve accuracy and reduce appeals were not detailed beyond an invitation for conversation
How: I Do Not Recognise Those Statistics, Inviting A Conversation
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