DWP PIP update on benefit appeals as thousands of claimants face payment cuts More than half a million people are expected to fight against the DWP's decision so they retain their PIP award under the new rules It's believed more than half a million PIP claimants will fight against the decision on their claim when Labour's new eligibility changes are brought in (Image: Image Source ) The Department for Work and Pensions has given an update on PIP appeals as thousands of claimants face payment cuts in an eligibility shake-up. Under Labour's plans, people will need at least one score of four in the activities assessed for the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment. This has standard and enhanced payment rates, offering £73.90 and £110.40 per week respectively. ‌ Statistics for current claims show that of the 1,608,000 enhanced daily living awards, 13 per cent (209,000) received fewer than four points in all activities. Of the 1,283,000 standard daily living awards, 87 per cent (1,116,000) were given fewer than four points in all activities. Article continues below READ MORE: However, the Office for Budget Responsibility suggests that the number of people losing their PIP will be less than the 1,325,250 suggested by those figures. ‌ Instead, they argue the actual number will be 800,000 because thousands of people will contest their benefit decision to get at least one score of four. Based on that estimate, more than 525,000 people are expected to appeal successfully against the DWP over their PIP claim. The first stage of an appeal is a mandatory reconsideration and involves the DWP taking a second look at its original decision. If a claimant isn't happy with the result of that, they can then take the matter on to an independent social security tribunal. The latest figures, released at the end of March 2025, show that of the 30,000 tribunal cases that were decided in the third quarter of 2024/2025 (October-December), 18,000 (60 per cent) had got as far as the tribunal hearing, while the rest were resolved beforehand. ‌ Of those who did have a tribunal hearing, 59 per cent had the initial decision revised in favour of the claimant, compared with 62 per cent in the same period in 2023/2024. PIP and Universal Credit disputes make up the majority of appeals to a tribunal, accounting for 63 per cent and 19 per cent respectively in that quarter. The number of cases in which the claimant won their appeal varies by benefit type, with PIP at 67 per cent, Disability Living Allowance (DLA) at 61 per cent, Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) at 52 per cent, and Universal Credit at 48 per cent. Article continues below The PIP, DLA, ESA, and UC overturn rates mostly decreased compared with October to December 2023, with PIP down 3, DLA and ESA up 3 each, and UC down 6 percentage points. Another 80,000 appeals were still to have their outcome determined at the end of December 2024. Cases decided in October-December 2024 waited an average of 30 weeks before a decision was reached at a tribunal, a rise of five weeks compared with the same period in 2023. Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp. Join our dedicated community for the latest updates. You can find out more in our Money Saving Newsletter, which is sent out daily with all the updates you need to know on pensions, PIP, Universal Credit, benefits, finances, bills, and shopping discounts.