UK PIP caseload rises by almost 100,000 after government pauses welfare reforms

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimants in England and Wales increased to 3.83 million at the end of July, up nearly 100,000 from three months earlier, official Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) figures show.

The rise represents a two percent increase from 3.74 million claimants in April. The DWP said 210,000 people registered for PIP between April and July and 230,000 decisions were taken on entitlement in the same period. The department also reported that 37% of claimants receive the highest level of PIP, set at £187.45 per month, and that a psychiatric disorder was the most commonly recorded reason for eligibility, accounting for 39% of claimants.

The increase follows the government's decision in July to pause plans to tighten PIP eligibility after a revolt by Labour backbenchers. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer announced that proposed cuts—initially projected to save about £5 billion—would be shelved while a comprehensive review is carried out by welfare minister Sir Stephen Timms next year.

An official forecast cited by ministers warned that, without reforms, PIP caseloads could rise from about 3 million to 4.2 million by the next general election and that annual costs could increase from £21.8 billion to £34.1 billion by 2029. The forecast also warned of significant strain on the benefits system if spending trajectories continue unchecked.

The DWP described recent quarters as seeing "unprecedented levels of new claims" and pointed to "external situations" such as the Covid-19 pandemic as contributing factors. A DWP spokesman said the government is "reforming the system by tackling the perverse incentives that encourage ill health, while shifting our focus from welfare to work, skills and opportunities so more people can move into work, as part of our Plan for Change." The spokesman added that the Timms Review "is also looking at the PIP assessment as a whole to make sure it is fit and fair for the future, and is being co-produced by disabled people and the organisations that represent them."

Opposition politicians and commentators responded to the new numbers. Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Helen Whately said the figures showed "the consequences of Labour's welfare climbdown" and warned the system was "spiralling out of control," urging cross-party cooperation on reforms. Her remarks framed the increase as evidence that the government needed a plan to control spending on disability benefits.

Charities and other organisations highlighted separate cuts to related entitlements. Figures published alongside the PIP data showed the number of pensioners receiving Winter Fuel Payments in winter 2024–25 was 1.3 million, a fall the release described as a decrease of 9.3 million from the previous winter. Joanna Elson, chief executive of the charity Independent Age, said the figures "highlight the sheer scale of the cuts made to the entitlement last year." She called for policymakers to consider the impact of benefit changes on older people.

The Timms Review, now expected to report next year, will examine PIP assessments and the wider operation of the benefit, officials said. Ministers have indicated any reforms will seek to balance concerns about rising costs and fiscal pressure with protections for disabled people and those with long-term health conditions.

The latest figures add to a debate in Westminster over how to manage welfare spending while supporting people with disabilities and mental health conditions. Ministers, opposition parties and charities differ on the causes of the rise and on the appropriate policy response, and the Timms Review is likely to be central to discussions ahead of any legislative changes.