The number of people claiming Personal Independence Payments (PIP) has surged to a record four million, doubling over the past seven years. According to Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) data, 3.93 million individuals were receiving PIP in England and Wales as of January 2026, marking an increase of over 233,000 claimants in just one year.
In response, Labour’s Work and Pensions Minister Sir Stephen Timms has initiated a review aimed at ensuring the welfare system remains “fair and fit for the future,” with findings expected this autumn. However, Conservative Party figures are pressing for more immediate action.
Helen Whately MP, Conservative Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, criticized the government for lacking control over welfare spending. She highlighted broken promises, including the failure to reinstate face-to-face PIP assessments: “Visiting a PIP assessment centre is like visiting a haunted house – rows of ghostly, empty rooms. Only by bringing back proper checks will support go just to those who truly need it.”
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Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride warned that welfare costs are escalating unsustainably. “Health and disability spending alone is heading for £100 billion by 2030,” he said. “Britain cannot afford more benefits—we must prioritize defense funding, tax cuts, and rewarding work rather than expanding welfare.”
Lee Anderson of Reform UK echoed concerns about abuse within the system: “When numbers rocket like this the system is clearly being abused. The government needs to show some backbone and get a grip on this, otherwise the country’s heading for bankruptcy.”
As the debate intensifies, pressure mounts on the government to tighten eligibility and ensure that PIP support is directed to those who genuinely need it.