How long does a PIP claim take?

For people who have claimed PIP, or are about to, and want to know how long it takes.

Applies to: England, Wales Last checked against official sources: 6 October 2026

In July 2026, a new PIP claim took a typical 18 weeks from first contact to decision.

Once the health assessment provider had the case, the decision took a typical 12 weeks.
You have 1 month to return the "How your disability affects you" form.
An assessment usually lasts about an hour.
A mandatory reconsideration of a new claim took a typical 45 calendar days.
A tribunal appeal usually takes at least 6 months to be heard.

Different in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

Rules may be different in:

Scotland: Check mygov.scot for Scotland
Northern Ireland: Check nidirect for Northern Ireland

Key facts

New claims: typically 18 weeks
Form deadline: 1 month
Reconsideration: about 45 days
Appeals: 6 months or more

The PIP claim, stage by stage

Stage	How long
Phone call to start your claim	One call
Return the "How your disability affects you" form	Within 1 month of getting it
Health assessment (if needed)	Usually about 1 hour
Whole claim, first call to decision	Typically 18 weeks (July 2026)
From referral to the assessment provider to decision	Typically 12 weeks (July 2026)

"Typically" here means the median. Half of claims took less time and half took longer.

How waiting times have changed

DWP publishes PIP statistics every 3 months. The latest, published on 15 September 2026, show:

Measure	July 2025	July 2026
New claim, start to decision	15 weeks	18 weeks
Referral to decision	10 weeks	12 weeks

So waits were about 3 weeks longer in July 2026 than a year before.

What you can do to avoid delays

Return your form on time. You have 1 month. Call the PIP enquiry line if you need longer.
Send evidence with your form. For example, letters or reports from people treating you.
Have your details ready when you first call: National Insurance number, bank details, and your doctor's details.
Go to your assessment. It can be at a centre, at home, by phone or by video.

If you are nearing the end of life, there is a separate, quicker way to claim. You automatically get the daily living part.

After the decision

Your letter tells you if you will get PIP, the date of your first payment, and when your claim will be reviewed. A first award lasts between 9 months and 10 years.

If you challenge the decision

Step	How long
Ask for mandatory reconsideration	Within 1 month of the decision letter
DWP reconsiders a new claim	Typically 45 calendar days (July 2026)
Appeal to the tribunal	Within 1 month of the reconsideration notice
Tribunal hearing	Usually at least 6 months after you appeal

You can make an appeal take longer by sending evidence late, arriving late to your hearing, or being slow to register a representative.

If you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland

Scotland: you apply for Adult Disability Payment instead. You must send part 1 of the application within 14 days and part 2 within 56 days. For terminal illness, Social Security Scotland aims to decide in about 7 working days.
Northern Ireland: PIP is run by the Department for Communities. Call the PIP Centre on 0800 587 0932.

Related guides

Where these figures come from

Get it done

This takes you to the official service, which is free to use.

Claim PIP

Common questions

Why is my PIP claim taking so long?

Waits have grown. The typical time to a decision was 18 weeks in July 2026, up from 15 weeks a year earlier.

How long is a PIP award for?

Your first award lasts between 9 months and 10 years, depending on whether your needs are likely to change.

Official sources

1.DWP PIP statistics to July 2026www.gov.uk/government/statistics/personal-independence-payment-statistics-to-july-2026/personal-independence-payment-statistics-to-july-2026
2.PIP: how to claimwww.gov.uk/pip/how-to-claim
3.PIP: after you've appliedwww.gov.uk/pip/after-youve-applied
4.Appeal a benefit decision: after you submit your appealwww.gov.uk/appeal-benefit-decision/after-submit-appeal

Checked against GOV.UK on 6 October 2026

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