Disability benefit claims among young people have risen most rapidly in the Home Counties, according to recent research, raising concerns about potential misuse of the system in more affluent areas. The findings indicate that despite the region’s relative wealth, four of the ten parliamentary constituencies with the highest growth in Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claims among 16 to 19-year-olds are located in the South-East of England.
The TaxPayers’ Alliance (TPA), which conducted the analysis, reported that the South-East has also experienced the sharpest increase in disability benefit claims across all age groups since April 2024. Notably, the Farnham and Bordon constituency, spanning Surrey and Hampshire, saw the largest rise in PIP claims among people in their 20s, with an increase of 47.7%.
PIP is a benefit designed to assist with additional living costs for individuals with disabilities. While areas in the North-East, North-West, and Wales have higher overall percentages of claimants relative to their populations, these regions generally saw slower rates of growth in new claims compared to the South-East and London.
The TPA suggested that the surge in claims among younger residents in affluent areas could reflect either a genuine worsening of health or an exploitation of the benefit system. Shimeon Lee, a policy analyst at the TPA, expressed concern that some individuals might be “gaming the system,” calling for an urgent government review of PIP eligibility. Lee recommended introducing means-testing to ensure assistance reaches only those in real need, thereby alleviating the financial pressure on taxpayers.
The report’s findings come shortly after official government data released last week showed that as of July 31, 4.09 million people in England and Wales were entitled to PIP, marking a near half-million increase to a record high during the Labour administration. Mental health conditions accounted for nearly 40% of new disability benefit claims last year, according to figures from the Department for Work and Pensions.
In response to rising sickness-related work absences, the government announced plans to create a new Workplace Health System modeled on the National Health Service. The initiative aims to bring employers, the NHS, and local authorities together to reduce the number of people leaving the workforce due to health issues.
This strategy aligns with recommendations from Sir Charlie Mayfield, former chairman of John Lewis, who is leading the Keep Britain Working review on the economic impact of long-term sickness. His latest update estimated that health-related economic inactivity costs the UK approximately £212 billion annually—around 7% of GDP—due to lost productivity, benefits, and NHS expenditures. The report also highlighted a significant rise in health-related inactivity among young people, with 1.2 million more individuals aged 16 to 34 reporting work-limiting health problems between 2015 and 2024, of which 530,000 were tied to mental health conditions.