Reform UK has announced plans to remove Personal Independence Payments (PIP) from people with a range of conditions, as part of a proposed £20 billion reduction in disability benefits spending. The party intends to replace PIP with a new cash benefit available only to the “gravely ill and severely challenged”, which would exclude many individuals currently receiving support for mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and ADHD.
Scope of the proposed cuts
The proposals, set to be unveiled by the party, would see PIP replaced by a benefit with stricter eligibility criteria. This would likely affect a significant number of claimants, particularly those with mental health-related conditions, which have become a central focus of the ongoing Labour government review into disability benefits. Reform UK, which has been leading in opinion polls, is presenting these plans as part of its platform should it form a government.
According to the party, “lower-level conditions” would instead receive support overseen by councils and mayors. Additionally, foreign nationals would be barred from claiming certain benefits under the new system.
Rising claims and criticism
Mental health-related PIP claims have more than doubled over the last six years, contributing to a ballooning disability benefits bill. In contrast, other common conditions such as musculoskeletal complaints have not seen similar increases. Critics argue that it has become too easy to claim PIP for mental health conditions, and that the system is not effectively supporting those it was designed to help.
Young adults are largely responsible for this spike. Recent reports indicate that more than 87,000 16 and 17-year-olds claim PIP, with over two-thirds receiving the higher rate of £194 a week for conditions like anxiety and ADHD.
Political reactions
Reform's Treasury spokesperson Robert Jenrick wrote in the Telegraph that the amount spent on disability benefits was “not generosity … it is suicidal empathy”. In response, Labour MP Rachael Maskell claimed Reform "do not want disabled people to play a full role in our society". She added: "Instead, Labour is working with disabled people through the Timms review to optimise the impact of PIP to ensure both taxpayers and disabled people get real value out of the system."
The proposals are part of a broader political debate over the future of disability benefits, with the Labour government's ongoing review expected to report on potential changes to PIP.
