If your PIP claim was refused or scored too low, the official figures show how often a challenge changes the decision. In the most recent quarter (April to June 2026), the PIP appeal success rate at tribunal was 67%: that share of PIP decisions cleared at a hearing were overturned in the claimant's favour, according to the Ministry of Justice. This page tracks the latest PIP appeal success rate, how long appeals take, and what happens at each stage, using only official government statistics.
Key points
✓67% of PIP decisions cleared at a tribunal hearing were overturned in the claimant's favour (April to June 2026, Ministry of Justice)
✓In the quarter ending December, the PIP rate was 70% in 2023, 67% in 2024 and 64% in 2025
✓Social Security and Child Support appeals decided in April to June 2026 had a mean age of 37 weeks, against 25 weeks in October to December 2023
✓For initial decisions from April 2021 to March 2026, 15% of completed mandatory reconsiderations changed the award and 17% of appeals lapsed because DWP changed the decision before the hearing
✓This is general information, not advice on your own claim
What percentage of PIP appeals are successful?
In the latest published quarter, 67% of PIP decisions cleared at a tribunal hearing were overturned in favour of the claimant. This is the Ministry of Justice measure in Tribunal Statistics Quarterly, and it covers April to June 2026. Across all Social Security and Child Support appeals cleared at a hearing, the figure was 60%. By benefit, DLA was 59%, ESA 46% and Universal Credit 45%.
Read the figure precisely: the 67% is the share of PIP decisions cleared at a hearing that were overturned, not the share of every appeal lodged. In April to June 2026, 65% of all Social Security and Child Support disposals were cleared at a hearing.
Comparing the same quarter each year (October to December) gives a like for like trend:
Quarter ending December
PIP decisions overturned (at hearing)
All benefit appeals (SSCS)
2023
70%
62%
2024
67%
59%
2025
64%
58%
Apr to Jun 2026 (latest quarter)
67%
60%
Source: Ministry of Justice, Tribunal Statistics Quarterly for each quarter shown. The first three rows compare the same quarter each year, October to December, for a like for like view. The final row is the most recent published quarter, April to June 2026, and is shown separately because it is a different point in the year. PIP appeals are heard by the Social Security and Child Support tribunal. See the sources section below.
How long does a PIP appeal take in 2026?
The mean age of a Social Security and Child Support appeal when the tribunal decided it was 37 weeks in April to June 2026. That is up from 35 weeks in January to March 2026, and longer than in earlier years:
Quarter ending December
Average wait to decision
2022
24 weeks
2023
25 weeks
2024
30 weeks
2025
37 weeks
Apr to Jun 2026 (latest quarter)
37 weeks
Source: Ministry of Justice, Tribunal Statistics Quarterly. This is the mean age at disposal for all Social Security and Child Support appeals, not PIP alone. The 2022 figure is worked out from the 2023 release, which reports a 1 week increase on 2022. Social Security and Child Support receipts rose by 55% in April to June 2026 compared with a year earlier.
The PIP appeal journey: mandatory reconsideration to tribunal
DWP's own statistics show how initial decisions made after a PIP assessment between April 2021 and March 2026 moved through each stage:
Stage
Figure
Decisions taken to mandatory reconsideration (MR)
20%
MRs that changed the award
15%
Completed MRs that then went to appeal
35%
Appeals settled by DWP before the hearing (“lapsed”)
17%
Initial decisions ultimately overturned at a hearing
3%
Overall, 7% of these initial decisions were appealed and 3% were overturned at a tribunal hearing. Of the decisions cleared at a hearing, DWP reports that 65% were overturned, close to the 67% in the Ministry of Justice figures, which measure a different period.
There is a time limit. You usually need to ask for a mandatory reconsideration within one month of the date of the decision, and to appeal within one month of the date of your mandatory reconsideration notice. See our guide to appealing a PIP decision and mandatory reconsideration.
What this means if your PIP was refused
The figures show that a refusal or a low award is not always the final answer: most PIP decisions cleared at a tribunal hearing are overturned. The tribunal is independent of government, and you can choose to go to the hearing to explain your appeal.
That does not mean every appeal succeeds. The steps are to ask for a mandatory reconsideration within the time limit, send evidence that supports your reasons, and appeal to the tribunal if you think the decision in the mandatory reconsideration notice is wrong.
Custom and regional breakdowns can be built from DWP Stat-Xplore and the data tables published alongside the MoJ quarterly release.
Note on measures: the Ministry of Justice reports the percentage of cases cleared at a hearing that were overturned in favour of the claimant in a quarter. DWP groups its figures by the date of the initial decision, and says its appeal volumes are on a different basis to the Ministry of Justice statistics. Both sets of figures cover Great Britain: in Northern Ireland, PIP appeals go to the Appeals Service.
In April to June 2026, 46% of Employment and Support Allowance decisions cleared at a Social Security and Child Support tribunal hearing were overturned in the claimant's favour. The figure was 45% for Universal Credit, 59% for DLA and 67% for PIP (Ministry of Justice, Tribunal Statistics Quarterly).
How long does a PIP tribunal take in 2026?
Social Security and Child Support appeals decided in April to June 2026 had a mean age of 37 weeks at disposal. That is up from 35 weeks in January to March 2026 and 25 weeks in October to December 2023. Receipts rose by 55% on a year earlier and open cases by 63%. GOV.UK says it usually takes at least 6 months for an appeal to be heard.
Is it worth appealing a PIP decision?
The official statistics show that most PIP decisions cleared at a hearing are overturned, and that 17% of appeals on initial decisions from April 2021 to March 2026 lapsed because DWP changed the decision before the hearing. This is general information rather than advice on your individual claim. The first step is a mandatory reconsideration, usually within one month of the date of the decision.
Know Your Rights UK. "PIP Appeal Success Rate 2026: Tribunal Overturn Rates." Know Your Rights UK, https://www.knowyourrightsuk.com/benefits/pip/pip-appeal-success-rate