How long does a PIP claim take?

Question

Accepted Answer

In July 2026 the median new claim took 18 weeks from the day it was registered to the day a decision was made. That is a median for England and Wales, not a promise. Some decisions are faster and some are slower, and the wait is not the same in every area. The clock starts on the phone call that registers the claim, not on the assessment. An award is usually paid from the registration date, so a long wait does not by itself wipe the back pay. Where the weeks go After the call, the form has to come back. Then an assessment is booked. Then the report is written and a case manager decides. DWP’s July 2026 figures also put about 12 weeks between the referral to the assessment provider and the decision. The 18 weeks is the whole journey. What you can do while you wait Keep the diary going. A week of notes is useful if you are asked for more, or if the decision is wrong. Tell them if you go into hospital, or if the difficulty changes a lot. Do not start a second claim for the same thing.