Birmingham Northfield has the highest rate of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claimants in the West Midlands, according to latest data. The parliamentary constituency, which also covers parts of Kings Norton and Shenley Fields, has 13.5% of its working-age population claiming the benefit — more than 10,600 people in total.
The figures come as the national number of PIP claimants in England and Wales passes four million for the first time, with spending forecast to top £41 billion by the end of the decade.
Areas with highest claimant rates
Other Birmingham constituencies with high claimant numbers include Hodge Hill and Solihull North (13.2%) and Erdington (13.1%). Parts of the Black Country also show above-average rates, including Tipton and Wednesbury (12.5%) and Walsall and Bloxwich (12.1%).
Claimant numbers have roughly doubled since 2019, according to the data. While most claimants have legitimate reasons for receiving the UK's main disability benefit and many also work, concerns have been raised about the surging number of claims linked to conditions like anxiety and depression.
Mental health claims drive increase
A major factor behind the rise is the soaring number of people claiming PIP for disabling psychiatric disorders, such as depression, anxiety and PTSD. Mental health conditions now account for nearly two in five (39%) of all claims, with numbers more than doubling over the last six years.
Musculoskeletal conditions — including chronic pain syndromes like fibromyalgia and degenerative diseases like arthritis — represent the second-largest category, followed by neurological conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson's.
Upcoming PIP overhaul
An upcoming overhaul of PIP could make it more difficult to claim the benefit. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has insisted the benefits bill must come down, amid concerns that it has become too easy to get money.
The data highlights the scale of disability benefit reliance in Birmingham and the wider West Midlands, with several constituencies above the national average. The planned changes to PIP are expected to affect how claims are assessed and who qualifies.
