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UK PM Andy Burnham faces rising working-age disability benefit costs
The personal independence payments bill is around £58 billion a year, with claims forecast to rise from 4 million now to 5 million by 2030.
HousingWire reports that when Andy Burnham enters Downing Street, he is set to inherit a rapidly growing cost of working-age sickness and disability benefits, which is currently around £58 billion a year.
A major driver is the increase in Personal Independence Payments, and BBC Business notes the number of people claiming PIP is forecast to rise from 4 million today to 5 million by 2030, with growth also tied to younger claimants citing mental health problems or neurodevelopmental disorders such as ADHD.
BBC Business reports that past attempts to reform the system did not halt the rise in costs. It says the prior Conservative government pursued working-age disability welfare reforms, and that the subsequent Labour government tried to reduce the PIP bill by £5 billion a year by 2030 through tighter eligibility before making a U-turn after a revolt by Labour MPs.
The outlet also says an interim report by disability minister Sir Stephen Timms, co-produced with disability groups, concluded that PIP is not fit for purpose, with a final report expected later this year. BBC Business adds that reforms discussed in the run-up could shift support for some younger claimants toward therapy or other help rather than cash, but warns of potential backlash.