Benefit appeal backlog swells, forcing claimants to wait nearly nine months

New Ministry of Justice data reveal that the Social Security and Child Support tribunal’s workload surged by 60% to 129,000 cases in the year ending June 2026, creating a backlog that now forces claimants to wait up to 37 weeks for a ruling. This represents a three-week increase over the same period last year and reflects an accelerating trend over the past four quarters. The tribunal, which reviews appeals on benefits like Personal Independence Payment, Universal Credit and Disability Living Allowance, sees a 60% overturn rate, markedly higher than the 20-25% rate at the Department for Work and Pensions.

Pip appeals dominate, making up 65% of the tribunal’s docket, and the swelling caseload mirrors rises in asylum, employment and SEND tribunals. Disability charity Scope’s policy head Abdi Mohamed warned that the delays jeopardise vulnerable people, while Social Security Minister Stephen Timms is due to present a review report in the autumn.