An Assessment of the Benefit Appeals System: From Mandatory Reconsideration to the Social Security Tribunal

https://policyexchange.org.uk/publication/lapse-of-judgment/

28 December 2025 

 

Lapse of Judgment?

An Assessment of the Benefit Appeals System: From Mandatory Reconsideration to the Social Security Tribunal

This new report by Policy Exchange shines a light on an often overlooked part of the welfare system: the appeals process for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and the Work Capability Assessment (WCA). It argues that we need to fundamentally reform our appeals process for health and disability benefits to raise decision-making quality, improve democratic accountability and ensure the support provided is both sustainable and targeted appropriately. [...]

 

Key recommendations

The report calls for a reset of the appeals system, including: [...]

Reforming tribunal interpretation services so that foreign-language interpretation is ordinarily funded by appellants (with appropriate exemptions for BSL).[...] 

https://policyexchange.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Lapse.of_.Judgment.pdf