Key facts
- Hundreds of thousands of disabled people with lifelong conditions are undergoing "unnecessary" benefit reassessments, according to Z2K.
- High proportions of claimants with conditions like cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson's are given fixed-term awards.
- Nearly 75% of planned Pip award reviews last year resulted in no change to payments.
- The DWP spends over £350m annually on Pip assessment contracts.
- A DWP spokesperson stated that extending award review periods aims to save around £2bn and reduce pressure on claimants.
Disabled people with lifelong conditions are being subjected to repeated and "unnecessary" benefit reassessments, contrary to official guidance, according to new analysis by the anti-poverty charity Z2K. The study found that high proportions of claimants with conditions like learning disabilities, amputations, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson's are being given fixed-term awards, requiring reviews that often result in no change to their payments.
Z2K's findings indicate that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is not adhering to its own guidance, which suggests that individuals with lifelong and progressive conditions should not be reassessed more than once a decade. The charity highlighted that nearly 75% of planned award reviews last year, equivalent to over 500,000 reassessments, led to no alteration in payments. Of the reviews that did result in changes, 10% saw increases, while 16% saw decreases or cessation of payments.
The study also revealed that ongoing Pip awards, typically reviewed every 10 years, are rare, making up only 6.9% of new claims in 2025. While the default length of fixed awards has recently been extended from two to three years, Z2K warned this change does not address the core issue of people with lifelong disabilities being incorrectly placed on fixed-term awards, merely delaying their reassessment.
The financial implications for claimants are significant, with Z2K reporting cases where support is wrongly removed or reduced, pushing individuals into hardship and potentially homelessness. One claimant, Steve, who sustained a brain injury, had his Pip award reduced by £120 per month despite his condition remaining unchanged. His appeal process took two-and-a-half years to restore his original payments.
In response, a DWP spokesperson stated that the department is taking action to fix the welfare system, including extending award review periods to save approximately £2bn and reduce pressure on disabled people. The DWP emphasized that assessments consider individual circumstances and how well claimants manage Pip activities. The Timms Review, developed with disabled people, is also underway to ensure the Pip system is fair for the future.