Think tank says one in six PIP claimants may not need the benefit

The Resolution Foundation, a Labour-aligned think tank, surveyed 2,611 individuals on Personal Independence Payments and concluded that 16% do not incur extra costs because of their disability, a proportion that climbs to 21% among those aged 16 to 24. With PIP claims reaching a record 4.1 million in England and Wales, the foundation warns that the programme’s cost could rise to £34.5 billion by 2030. It calculates that restricting payments for claimants without additional costs could free up as much as £4.4 billion each year, potentially removing cash support from around 670,000 people by 2029-30.

The report urges the Department for Work and Pensions to incorporate cost-related questions into assessments and to conduct more regular, low-stakes reviews of claimants’ conditions. The recommendations come ahead of the expected Timms Review report and may prompt Minister Andy Burnham to propose reforms. A DWP spokesperson reiterated that PIP is based on functional assessments but acknowledged the need for sustainable reform.