Recent data reveals a sharp increase in so-called middle-class households receiving disability benefits from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Nearly 200,000 households earning over £100,000 annually are now claiming Personal Independence Payments (PIP), a figure that has nearly doubled since 2021-22.
With a total of 4 million PIP claimants, the TaxPayers’ Alliance highlighted the surge in “high-income” recipients in their submission to the Timms review. According to estimates from the DWP’s Family Resources Survey for 2024-25, approximately 197,000 households with a gross income exceeding £104,000 are receiving PIP.
PIP payments vary, with the enhanced daily living component worth £114.60 per week, and the standard rate at £76. The mobility component provides an additional £30 or £80 weekly, depending on eligibility.
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This sharp rise—from 98,000 households in 2021-22 to nearly 200,000 today—has sparked calls for reform. Shimeon Lee, policy analyst at the TaxPayers’ Alliance, expressed concern: “Taxpayers will be stunned that so many high-income households are claiming PIP. The soaring cost of disability benefits demands urgent action.”
She added, “Means-testing is essential to ensure the system remains sustainable and focused on those who truly need support. The claim that PIP encourages employment doesn’t hold for the highest earners; it’s unlikely that these individuals would be unable to work without PIP.”
Responding to the issue, a DWP spokesperson said, “PIP is not awarded lightly; it involves a thorough assessment of how a disability or health condition affects daily living. It’s designed to help cover the extra costs associated with disabilities.”
The statement continued, “While the welfare system inherited was flawed, our ongoing reforms aim to save UK taxpayers £1.9 billion over the Parliament. The Timms review is also exploring how to make PIP fairer and more sustainable for the future.”