Dwp plan could see some pip claimants having their payments stopped

SINCE 2013, SPENDING ON INCAPACITY AND DISABILITY BENEFITS HAS GONE UP BY OVER 40%, REACHING £64.7 BILLION 11:11, 01 Feb 2025Updated 11:12, 01 Feb 2025 Some PIP claimants could have their

payments stopped under new proposals. A fresh set of plans suggests scrapping Personal Independence Payments for those with mental health conditions, providing funds solely for physical

ailments. Data reveals that most PIP claims pertain to mental health issues, with 1.4 million (38%) out of the total 3.66 million focusing on conditions like anxiety and depression. Since

2013, spending on incapacity and disability benefits has surged by over 40%, reaching £64.7 billion, outstripping the UK defence budget by 20% and matching 22% of the total health

expenditure. Predictions show a climb to £100.7 billion by 2029–30, resulting in a welfare bill exceeding £370 billion. This spring, the Government will set out a major revamp of disability

and incapacity benefits. With the House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee pushing for swift reform, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall faces calls to respond to their recommendations

by 20 March. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has warned of 'difficult decisions' ahead of changes coming to the DWP and benefits. DWP boss Liz Kendall has also warned millions of Brits

'radical' changes are on the way in major crackdown In anticipation of this, new proposals from the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), a centre-right think tank, advocate halting PIP

payments for mental ill-health, offering targeted assistance instead. It claims that escalating mental illness claims are contributing to increased economic inactivity. GET ALL THE LATEST

MONEY NEWS AND BUDGETING TIPS FROM CHRONICLE LIVE WITH OUR FREE NEWSLETTER The CSJ has reported a 209 per cent increase in the number of newly approved PIP claims where mental health was the

primary condition between 2019/20 and 2023/24. This cost approximately £221 million in 2019/20, rising to £683 million in 2023/24, reports BirminghamLive. The number of people aged 16-24

not required to look for work due to long-term sickness rose by 29 per cent between 2019 and 2022, and by 42 per cent for those aged 25 to 34. The largest increase in long-term sickness was

due to mental illness, which saw an increase of around 20,000, up nearly a quarter (24 per cent). CSJ polling found that nearly half (48 per cent) of the public agree that people with mild

symptoms of less severe mental ill-health should receive "benefits-in-kind" - non-financial forms of support - with only 18 per cent saying they should receive cash. PIP payments

currently range from £114.80 to £737.20 every four weeks, set to rise to £116.80 and £749.80 from April 2025. The CSJ has criticised the UK's approach to mental health, suggesting there

is an excessive readiness to label people with mental health conditions when they might simply be feeling miserable or lonely. It has emerged that only a trio of the nation's 49 health

trusts actually define what constitutes mental health, with psychiatrists acknowledging the subjective nature of diagnoses. Article continues below The CSJ's report highlights

concerns, stating: "In a desire to support and enable individuals to have positive mental health, there is a danger that the pendulum has swung too far and that the boundaries between

distress and disorder have become blurred. This is not compassionate. It risks those who are unwell missing out on the treatment they deserve, and it risks burdening others with unhelpful

labels that can hold them back without addressing the root cause of their very real needs." JOIN OUR WHATSAPP COMMUNITIES ChronicleLive is now on WhatsApp and we want you to join our

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