Birmingham Northfield has the highest rate of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) disability benefit claims in the West Midlands, with 13.5% of working-age residents claiming the benefit. This equates to more than 10,600 claimants in the constituency, which includes parts of Kings Norton and Shenley Fields.
The latest data, released on 23 August 2026, reveals that other Birmingham areas also show elevated claimant rates. Hodge Hill and Solihull North follow closely at 13.2%, while Erdington stands at 13.1%. Parts of the Black Country also report above-average figures.
Mental health drives national PIP surge
Nationally, mental health conditions now account for nearly two in five (39%) of all PIP claims. This represents a significant shift in the profile of claimants, with numbers more than doubling over the last six years.
Overall claimant numbers have roughly doubled since 2019. The number of people in England and Wales claiming PIP has passed four million for the first time, according to the data.
PIP spending forecast to exceed £41 billion
The surge in claims has led to a substantial increase in government spending. PIP expenditure is forecast to top £41 billion by the end of the decade, reflecting the growing demand for disability support.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has insisted that "the benefits bill must come down", signalling potential policy changes ahead. The full breakdown of Birmingham's benefit streets with the highest numbers of PIP claims is available in the complete story.
