diff --git a/changelog/fix-9716-disputes-api-requests b/changelog/fix-9716-disputes-api-requests
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..10f5387c9b4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog/fix-9716-disputes-api-requests
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+Significance: minor
+Type: fix
+
+Performance improvements for Disputes Needing Response task shown in WooCommerce admin.
diff --git a/includes/admin/class-wc-payments-admin.php b/includes/admin/class-wc-payments-admin.php
index 6509cc90ecb..e7ad01fe210 100644
--- a/includes/admin/class-wc-payments-admin.php
+++ b/includes/admin/class-wc-payments-admin.php
@@ -1336,6 +1336,7 @@ public function add_transactions_notification_badge() {
 
 	/**
 	 * Gets the number of disputes which need a response. ie have a 'needs_response' or 'warning_needs_response' status.
+	 * Used to display a notification badge on the Payments > Disputes menu item.
 	 *
 	 * @return int The number of disputes which need a response.
 	 */
diff --git a/includes/admin/tasks/class-wc-payments-task-disputes.php b/includes/admin/tasks/class-wc-payments-task-disputes.php
index b7212ec7623..7d5ac82faf4 100644
--- a/includes/admin/tasks/class-wc-payments-task-disputes.php
+++ b/includes/admin/tasks/class-wc-payments-task-disputes.php
@@ -49,6 +49,13 @@ class WC_Payments_Task_Disputes extends Task {
 	 */
 	private $disputes_due_within_1d;
 
+	/**
+	 * A memory cache of all disputes needing response.
+	 *
+	 * @var array|null
+	 */
+	private $disputes_needing_response = null;
+
 	/**
 	 * WC_Payments_Task_Disputes constructor.
 	 */
@@ -57,13 +64,12 @@ public function __construct() {
 		$this->api_client     = \WC_Payments::get_payments_api_client();
 		$this->database_cache = \WC_Payments::get_database_cache();
 		parent::__construct();
-		$this->init();
 	}
 
 	/**
 	 * Initialize the task.
 	 */
-	private function init() {
+	private function fetch_relevant_disputes() {
 		$this->disputes_due_within_7d = $this->get_disputes_needing_response_within_days( 7 );
 		$this->disputes_due_within_1d = $this->get_disputes_needing_response_within_days( 1 );
 	}
@@ -83,6 +89,9 @@ public function get_id() {
 	 * @return string
 	 */
 	public function get_title() {
+		if ( null === $this->disputes_needing_response ) {
+			$this->fetch_relevant_disputes();
+		}
 		if ( count( (array) $this->disputes_due_within_7d ) === 1 ) {
 			$dispute          = $this->disputes_due_within_7d[0];
 			$amount           = WC_Payments_Utils::interpret_stripe_amount( $dispute['amount'], $dispute['currency'] );
@@ -275,6 +284,9 @@ public function is_complete() {
 	 * @return bool
 	 */
 	public function can_view() {
+		if ( null === $this->disputes_needing_response ) {
+			$this->fetch_relevant_disputes();
+		}
 		return count( (array) $this->disputes_due_within_7d ) > 0;
 	}
 
@@ -322,15 +334,24 @@ private function get_disputes_needing_response_within_days( $num_days ) {
 	 * @return array|null Array of disputes awaiting a response. Null on failure.
 	 */
 	private function get_disputes_needing_response() {
-		return $this->database_cache->get_or_add(
+		if ( null !== $this->disputes_needing_response ) {
+			return $this->disputes_needing_response;
+		}
+
+		$this->disputes_needing_response = $this->database_cache->get_or_add(
 			Database_Cache::ACTIVE_DISPUTES_KEY,
 			function () {
-				$response = $this->api_client->get_disputes(
-					[
-						'pagesize' => 50,
-						'search'   => [ 'warning_needs_response', 'needs_response' ],
-					]
-				);
+				try {
+					$response = $this->api_client->get_disputes(
+						[
+							'pagesize' => 50,
+							'search'   => [ 'warning_needs_response', 'needs_response' ],
+						]
+					);
+				} catch ( \Exception $e ) {
+					// Ensure an array is always returned, even if the API call fails.
+					return [];
+				}
 
 				$active_disputes = $response['data'] ?? [];
 
@@ -347,8 +368,9 @@ function ( $a, $b ) {
 
 				return $active_disputes;
 			},
-			// We'll consider all array values to be valid as the cache is only invalidated when it is deleted or it expires.
 			'is_array'
 		);
+
+		return $this->disputes_needing_response;
 	}
 }
diff --git a/includes/class-wc-payments-tasks.php b/includes/class-wc-payments-tasks.php
index ee3feacff48..b0b01e22896 100644
--- a/includes/class-wc-payments-tasks.php
+++ b/includes/class-wc-payments-tasks.php
@@ -21,7 +21,11 @@ class WC_Payments_Tasks {
 	 * WC_Payments_Admin_Tasks constructor.
 	 */
 	public static function init() {
-		include_once WCPAY_ABSPATH . 'includes/admin/tasks/class-wc-payments-task-disputes.php';
+		// As WooCommerce Onboarding tasks need to hook into 'init' and requires an API call.
+		// We only add this task for users who can manage_woocommerce / view the task.
+		if ( ! current_user_can( 'manage_woocommerce' ) ) {
+			return;
+		}
 
 		add_action( 'init', [ __CLASS__, 'add_task_disputes_need_response' ] );
 	}
@@ -31,9 +35,11 @@ public static function init() {
 	 */
 	public static function add_task_disputes_need_response() {
 		$account_service = WC_Payments::get_account_service();
-		if ( ! $account_service || ! $account_service->is_stripe_account_valid() ) {
+		// The task is not required if the account is not connected, under review, or rejected.
+		if ( ! $account_service || ! $account_service->is_stripe_account_valid() || $account_service->is_account_under_review() || $account_service->is_account_rejected() ) {
 			return;
 		}
+		include_once WCPAY_ABSPATH . 'includes/admin/tasks/class-wc-payments-task-disputes.php';
 
 		// 'extended' = 'Things to do next' task list on WooCommerce > Home.
 		TaskLists::add_task( 'extended', new WC_Payments_Task_Disputes() );
diff --git a/tests/unit/admin/tasks/test-class-wc-payments-task-disputes.php b/tests/unit/admin/tasks/test-class-wc-payments-task-disputes.php
index 43771de278d..729be9743f0 100644
--- a/tests/unit/admin/tasks/test-class-wc-payments-task-disputes.php
+++ b/tests/unit/admin/tasks/test-class-wc-payments-task-disputes.php
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 use WCPay\Constants\Country_Code;
 use WooCommerce\Payments\Tasks\WC_Payments_Task_Disputes;
 
+require_once WCPAY_ABSPATH . 'includes/admin/tasks/class-wc-payments-task-disputes.php';
 /**
  * WC_Payments_Task_Disputes unit tests.
  */