Surge in disability benefits 'due to increase in mental health claims'

More than half of the increase in disability benefits is due to more mental health claims, according to research.

- Anna Bawden

Since the pandemic, the number of working-age adults in England and Wales paid disability benefits has increased by nearly 1 million people to 2.9 million in 2024, with 7.5% of 16-to-64-year-olds claiming.

A report by the influential economic thinktank the Institute for Fiscal Studies has calculated that about 500,000 of this rise is due to more claims for mental ill health.

Whereas in 2002 mental health or behavioural problems were the main condition for 25% of claimants, it had risen to 40% by 2019 and has accelerated further since Covid-19. In 2024 the proportion of those receiving disability benefits whose main condition was a mental or behavioural problem had reached 44% (about 3.3% of the working-age population). It means that "55% of the post-pandemic rise in disability benefits can be accounted for by claims primarily for mental health", the IFS report states.

The government is expected to announce sharp cuts to the personal independence payment (Pip), the main disability benefit, arguing the bill for disability benefits, which rose by nearly £13bn to £48bn between 2019-20 and 2023-24, is unsustainable.