The backlog of social security appeals has soared by 63% in the last year and the rate of increase is accelerating, with 129,000 cases now waiting to be heard.
The number of social security appeals lodged increased by 55% in April to June this year compared to the same quarter last year, from 30,000 to 46,000.
DLA: 187% increase
PIP: 52% increase
UC: 48% increase
The increase in the number of DLA appeals has been extraordinary, rising from 1,701 in April to June 2025 to 4,881 in the same quarter this year.
The rise in the number of PIP appeals was also marked, with 27,452 appeals lodged in April to June 2026, compared to 18,102 in the same quarter a year ago. Not only that, but the number of PIP appeals has risen every quarter for the last five quarters.
PIP accounted for 59% of all appeals, with UC in second place, accounting for 20% of appeals lodged.
65% of social security appeals were cleared at a hearing, compared to 69% a year ago. This may suggest that more appeals are being resolved before a hearing takes place, including through DWP concessions.
Overall, 60% of appeals were successful for the claimant, the same proportion as last year.
But this can be broken down further by benefit type:
PIP: 67% success rate, up one percentage point compared to last year.
DLA: 59% success rate, down one percentage point compared to last year.
ESA: 46% success rate, up one percentage point compared to last year.
UC: 45% success rate, down three percentage points compared to last year.
Waiting times for a hearing are now at 37 weeks, an increase of three weeks compared to the same period in 2025.
You can read the full social security tribunal statistics here.
