𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

The number of people in England and Wales entitled to personal independence payments (PIP) has soared to a record high. PIP is the main benefit paid to someone who has a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability, and is intended to help with everyday tasks and extra living costs.

A total of 4.09 million people were entitled to claim PIP as of July 31 2026, according to data published on Tuesday by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). This is up from 3.83 million a year earlier – a rise of 262,045, or 7%. Helen Whately MP, Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, said: “Our sickness benefits system is broken and Labour refuse to fix it. It’s too quick to write people off and too slow to help them into work. And it’s costing us a fortune.”

Referring to comments by Labour politician Pat McFadden, Ms Whately said: “Labour’s work and pensions secretary said himself that all Labour MPs want to do is tax people more to pay for more benefits.”

Mr McFadden had told former ambassador Peter Mandelson, in a message intended to remain private: “Every meeting I have is ‘who can we tax in order to pay benefits to others’.”

Social Security Minister Sir Stephen Timms will later this autumn publish a Government-commissioned review into the costs and operation of the disability benefits system.

The review branded the system “no longer fit for purpose” in its interim findings in July.

The number of PIP claimants has roughly doubled since comparable figures began in January 2019, when the total stood at 2.05 million.

Of the 4.09 million claimants, 3.4 million (83%) are of working age and 690,000 (17%) are state pension age.

People aged 50 and over account for more than half of those entitled to claim Pip, at 55% of the total, while 30-49 year-olds make up nearly 29% and 16-29 year-olds almost 17%.

Last year saw ministers abandon plans to reform disability benefits, including for those with mental health conditions, in the face of backbench Labour rebellion.