More than 1.4m claiming mental health benefits

Telegraph

12 hours ago

A record 531 people a day were granted welfare benefits for mental health problems, analysis of last year's Personal Independence Payment (Pip) figures reveals.
In the 2024-25 financial year, Department for Work and Pensions staff approved 193,890 such cases for England and Wales – equivalent to one application being rubber-stamped every three minutes.
The full extent of those claiming Pip due to mental health illness could in fact be much higher because the Government data do not include those who successfully appeal an initial rejection of their claim.
The latest statistics for the month of April also reveal that a total of 1.4 million people were in receipt of a Pip payment due to mental health issues. That figure represents a 70 per cent increase compared to a similar monthly snapshot taken in January 2020 when 848,882 such payments were approved.
That April data includes 407,000 cases approved for 'mixed anxiety and depression', 62,000 for 'anxiety disorders' and 83,000 for ADHD, alongside a variety of other illnesses ranging from autism to personality disorders.
Meanwhile, one in 10 of the country's 38 million working-age people is in receipt of some kind of health benefit. In November 2024, 3,943,677 people aged between 16 and 64 were claiming some form of payment for disability or sickness.
Reform UK's Richard Tice MP said: 'The level of waste and corruption in this country is at an all-time high, with a total lack of oversight, massive overspending, and no accountability from this Labour government.
'This country needs to be run more like a business and less like a charity with unlimited funding. It's always the hard-working British taxpayer who ends up paying the price.
'Reform will slash government spending by scrapping net zero, ending DEI practices, and securing our borders. By doing so, we will free up funds to focus on what truly matters: improving public services and easing the burden on the working class.'
Helen Whately, the shadow work and pensions secretary, said: 'This week, the Prime Minister was forced into a humiliating climbdown on welfare by socialist Labour MPs.
'Runaway welfare spending has to be brought under control, but unbelievably we're now left with a Bill that will end up costing the taxpayer more.
'Starmer is in office, but not in power. And without someone able to take difficult decisions, this country is doomed.'
The analysis comes just days after Labour backbenchers forced Rachel Reeves to back down on her plans to cut the benefits bill.
The Chancellor had hoped to impose more stringent disability criteria for Pip claimants to help fill a black hole in the Government's spending forecasts.
But on Thursday, she was forced into a £3 billion U-turn to placate rebel MPs. As part of the deal, the restriction will only affect new claimants, while those already on the benefit will continue to receive it. The move has raised the prospect of tax rises in the autumn budget.
There has been speculation that the fiasco surrounding the reversal and its financial repercussions may have contributed to Ms Reeves' tears in the House of Commons on Wednesday.
Analysis of Government data shows that since January 2020, the number of Pip cases for mental health problems has soared considerably faster than for other ailments. Overall Pip claims have increased by 55 per cent, whilst those citing mental health have increased by 70 per cent.
Last year, the government spent £26.5 billion on the benefit, including around £3.5 billion for anxiety, ADHD and depression alone. By 2029-30, the total cost is expected to approach £35 billion, according to the Department for Work and Pensions.
Telegraph analysis found that around 8.5 per cent of the working-age population are on either Pip or its immediate predecessor, the disability living allowance (DLA). This is up from 4.4 per cent in 2002.
Once other disability benefits are included, such as attendance allowance or employment and support allowance, this increases to 10.3 per cent of the working-age population being on some form of sickness or disability support.
Of particular concern is the rise in disability benefits being awarded to young adults. Around 5.8 per cent of people aged 16 to 30 now claim either Pip or DLA, up from just 1.7 per cent in 2002. More than one in 25 young adults (4.4 per cent) are claiming for mental health.
The vast range of Pip payments, including obscure ones, has also caused concern. In April alone, a total of 10 payouts were awarded for 'Munchausen syndrome', 67 for food intolerance, 16 for 'old age' and almost 17,000 for alcohol and drug misuse.
In 2024-25, an average of 2,656 new registrations for Pip were made everyday in England and Wales, with about 1,262 of those claims then being approved.
Of those, an average of 531 a day were for psychiatric disorders, 341 for bone and joint issues and 121 for neurological disorders.