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Free PIP appeal timeline · 2026

PIP appeal timeline: your dates and deadlines.

Tell us where you’re up to and we’ll show your exact deadlines, plus estimated dates for every stage still to come. Based on the latest DWP and tribunal figures.

  • Exact deadline dates, and how many days you have left
  • Estimates from official 2026 waiting times
  • Free, and nothing you enter is saved or sent

Last reviewed

Start here

Work out your dates

Two answers. Your timeline updates as you go.

1Where are you up to?
2When was that?
Your appeal timeline
Your dates appear herePick where you’re up to and enter the date. You’ll see:
  • Your deadlines, with the exact dates
  • Estimated dates for each stage still to come
  • What to do next, and how long you have
How long each stage takes

The PIP appeal process, stage by stage.

From a refused decision to a tribunal outcome usually takes around 8 to 11 months. These are the latest official figures for each step.

1
Ask for a mandatory reconsiderationWithin one month of the date on your decision letter. Up to 13 months late if you have a good reason.
Deadline
2
The DWP looks againA median of 45 days for new claims (DWP, July 2026). 26% of reconsiderations led to a change in award (see our PIP statistics).
About 6 to 7 weeks
3
Send your appeal to the tribunalWithin one month of the date on your mandatory reconsideration notice. Up to 13 months late with a good reason.
Deadline
4
The DWP sends its responseThe DWP usually has 28 days to send the tribunal its papers. You get a copy.
About 4 weeks
5
Waiting for your hearingPIP appeals took a median of 28 weeks from lodging to outcome, and a mean of 36 weeks (Ministry of Justice, April to June 2026). See all PIP statistics.
About 6 to 9 months
6
The hearing and decisionThe hearing usually lasts under an hour. Most panels give their decision on the day.
Same day to a few days
7
Your backpayIf you win, the DWP puts the decision into effect and pays the arrears, usually within a few weeks.
A few weeks

Sources: DWP PIP statistics to July 2026 (published September 2026) and Ministry of Justice Tribunal Statistics Quarterly, April to June 2026.

Before your deadline

Don’t let the clock run out on you.

Missing a one-month deadline is the easiest way to lose an appeal before it starts.

Got a deadline coming up?

Your letter, ready in 48 hours

The one-month deadlines come round fast. We write your mandatory reconsideration letter or tribunal submission for you, tied to the descriptors you should have scored.

  • Written for your case and reviewed by a former DWP decision maker
  • Ready in 48 hours, well inside your deadline
  • Free revisions if you need changes
  • £49 flat. You keep 100% of your backpay
Hearing date set?

PIP Tribunal Preparation Pack

What happens on the day, the questions the panel usually asks about each activity, and how to describe your worst days clearly. A PDF you can print.

£14Instant PDF
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Your deadlines

The dates you can’t miss.

One month to ask for a reconsideration

From the date printed on your decision letter, not the day it arrived.

One month to appeal

From the date printed on your mandatory reconsideration notice.

Late? You may still have time

Both can be accepted up to 13 months after the decision if you explain why you were late.

After a hearing you lose

You have one month to ask the tribunal for a written statement of reasons, the first step to a further appeal.

Want the detail on every stage, from what happens at the hearing to coping while you wait? Read our guide: How long does a PIP appeal take? For ADP, WCA or Attendance Allowance deadlines, or forms to send back, use the Appeal Deadline Calculator.

Questions

PIP appeal timeline questions answered.

From a refused decision to a tribunal outcome usually takes around 8 to 11 months: about 6 to 7 weeks for the mandatory reconsideration, then a median of 28 weeks (mean 36) from sending the appeal to the outcome. Backpay usually follows within a few weeks.

The median was 45 days for new claims in July 2026, according to DWP statistics. There’s no legal time limit for the DWP to decide it.

PIP appeals took a median of 28 weeks and a mean of 36 weeks from lodging to outcome in April to June 2026 (Ministry of Justice). Waits vary by area and over time.

One month from the date on your decision letter to ask for a mandatory reconsideration, and one month from the date on your mandatory reconsideration notice to appeal to the tribunal. Late requests can be accepted up to 13 months with a good reason.

You can write to the tribunal asking for your appeal to be heard sooner if you’re in severe hardship or your health is getting worse quickly. Send evidence, such as a letter from your GP or landlord. It isn’t guaranteed.

In April to June 2026, 67% of PIP appeals decided at a hearing went in the claimant’s favour (Ministry of Justice).

It uses the latest official averages, so it’s an estimate. Deadlines are exact: they’re set by the rules, counted from the date on your letter.

Yes. If you win, your PIP goes back to the start date of the decision you challenged, so the months spent waiting are covered. Use the PIP Backpay Calculator to estimate it.

Beat the deadline. Keep all your backpay.

Your mandatory reconsideration letter or tribunal submission, written for your case and reviewed by a former DWP decision maker. Flat £49, ready in 48 hours.

Estimated dates use the latest official averages and will differ from case to case. Deadlines are worked out from the date you enter; always check the date printed on your letter. This is general guidance, not legal advice.