The number of children receiving disability benefits in the United Kingdom is projected to more than double over the next decade, reaching approximately 1.2 million by 2036, according to official figures. This significant increase highlights growing challenges in managing the welfare system, as officials face pressure to contain rising costs.

A review led by Sir Stephen Timms, the disability minister, revealed that claims for disability living allowance (DLA) among children under 16 have steadily risen over the past 15 years. In 2009, around 300,000 children were receiving DLA, which increased to 465,000 by 2019-20 and then jumped sharply to 760,000 in 2024-25, following the COVID-19 pandemic. The allowance, which supports children with physical and mental health conditions, can provide up to £194 per week and is designed to help cover the additional expenses related to disability. It is worth noting that DLA is no longer available for adults after being replaced by personal independence payments (PIP) in 2013, making it a child-only benefit.

The surge in child claims presents a policy challenge for Labour leadership candidates, including Andy Burnham, who was formally nominated for the party’s leadership race recently. The issue gained particular attention after an earlier attempt to reform the disability benefit system, led by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, was blocked by party MPs last summer. Timms’s review was commissioned in response to these difficulties and aims to balance the interests of claimants with the need for fiscal responsibility.

Data from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) shows that the approval rate for disability benefits among existing claimants is relatively high, with more than 75% of claims from former DLA recipients being accepted. In contrast, only about half of all new claims receive approval, indicating a more stringent evaluation process for first-time applicants.

The DWP emphasized that reforms are underway to ensure the system supports those with genuine need while maintaining fairness to taxpayers. The department projects that these changes will deliver savings of approximately £1.9 billion by the end of the 2030-31 financial year. However, the rising number of child claimants underscores ongoing tensions between providing necessary support and managing the welfare budget.