Number of PIP claimants..

woodbine

.. has apparently risen by one million in the last ten years to 3.3 million claimants.

MW123

Woodbine I am part of that statistic.  Yesterday Jim_Scope shared the government's upcoming consultation on reintegrating sick and disabled individuals into the workforce by 2025.  Having read it I believe this governments initiative is primarily aimed at reducing the welfare budget expenses, possibly with the hope of gaining public support. 

I am currently employed part-time, working 30 hours a week, but each week it is becoming increasingly challenging. My doctors strongly recommend considering early retirement. However, the complexity of the benefits system leaves me uncertain about my eligibility for various benefits.  I am convinced that the current benefits system in its many forms incurs more in administrative costs than the actual welfare payments made to claimants.  

Biblioklept

Just a few reasons I can think of:
The white paper may have scared some people into claiming, plus new claims dropped rapidly during Covid, there's an increase in diagnosis of things like ADHD and autism so with a name to their difficulties a lot of these probably feel able to claim, the Gov's CoL payments would have drawn more attention to PIP and other benefits. Children aging up from DLA. 

Plus the NHS being on its knees, lack of adequate mental health support, social support etc will be impacting the health of the nation 

OverlyAnxious

PIP was only introduced 10 years ago. 

I don't understand this statistic. 

Jimm_Scope

It's perhaps comparing DLA/PIP numbers to PIP now.

I will say, we also have an aging population with more awareness about certain conditions, this means people are more aware when they are disabled as well as an aging population meaning a less healthy population.

Also we are now in a cost of living crisis the past few years, meaning people who may have held off applying for benefits for reasons such as, pride or not wanting to be accused as a "scrounger" by a section of the population who lack any empathy, now do not have a choice as their finances are under strain.

And finally, the NHS is in a much worse position, leading to less preventative care and issues not being caught and treated before they become disabling. 

It is no surprise to me that more people are claiming, either one of these issues would lead to a rise in claims. We have all 3 and more.

HelenT2

Hi is anyone having trouble getting their esa payments at the moment?

woodbine

OverlyAnxious said:

PIP was only introduced 10 years ago. 

I don't understand this statistic. 

I think the article I read on the BBC was perhaps including DLA i.e ten years ago 2.3 million claiming DLA in 2023   3.3 million are claiming PIP (and being awarded)