The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has spent an eye-watering £60 million of taxpayers’ money battling disability benefit appeals – and losing the majority of them. Shocking new figures reveal that in the last financial year alone, the government lavished more than £50m trying to defend decisions on Personal Independence Payments (PIP), which is crucial in helping disabled people with the extra costs of daily life.
The cash spent on fighting these claims could have fully funded PIP for over 5,200 people for an entire year. PIP assessments are already under fire, with just 56% of applicants being granted support in the first instance. When people challenge these decisions, a staggering 90% of initial appeals – known as mandatory reconsiderations – are rejected by the DWP, costing £22.9m in administrative expenses.
But when these cases go before an independent tribunal, the tables turn. An overwhelming 69% of cases are won by claimants – raising serious questions about the fairness of the system. Evidence shows that fraud rates for disability benefits being virtually non-existent. Official figures show PIP fraud is at 0.0%, Disability Living Allowance (DLA) at just 0.1%, and Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) at 1.5%.
Campaigners are furious at the waste of public money. Mikey Erhardt from Disability Rights UK, told The Big Issue: “The DWP’s focus on gatekeeping support has a clear financial impact on the public purse – it costs us all money while making the lives of disabled people much worse.”
For many disabled people, the appeals process is not just costly – it’s deeply distressing. Claimants have spoken of waiting years for a tribunal hearing, enduring a “traumatic” and exhausting battle for vital support. James Taylor of disability charity Scope warned: “The system is rife with inaccuracies, distrust, and misery. We need to see the DWP reforming the assessment process to one that is more tailored and compassionate. But it appears our government is determined to start with cuts instead.”
The figures add to mounting evidence of a failing welfare system, with over £400m spent on fighting PIP appeals since the benefit was introduced in 2013. While the government claims it is committed to “fixing the broken benefits system,” charities fear further cuts to disability support rather than real reform.
The DWP insists it is “learning from decisions overturned at appeal” and has made changes to improve the process. A spokesperson said: “We support millions of people through our welfare system every year, and it is a priority that people receive a supportive service and the benefits they are entitled to as quickly as possible.”
The department is set to publish a health and disability green paper in the spring, outlining future plans.