The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is facing renewed pressure to overhaul Personal Independence Payment (PIP) after new figures revealed 276,725 people now claim the benefit for back pain, a condition that costs taxpayers almost £2 billion a year.
Back pain has become one of the most common conditions cited in PIP claims, yet it is also among the most frequently rejected. The DWP acknowledges that the term “back pain” covers a wide spectrum, from mild discomfort to complete immobility, making assessment particularly challenging.
Claimant numbers surge by 111,000 since 2019
Recent data shows the number of people receiving PIP for back pain has increased by more than 111,000 since 2019. The daily cost of supporting these claimants has risen from £2 million to £5 million over the past seven years, according to the latest official statistics.
Around 47 additional people begin claiming PIP for back pain each week, while the average weekly payment has increased by 40 per cent to £131.21. This rapid growth has intensified scrutiny on the benefit system ahead of the final Timms Review report, expected this autumn.
Evidence requirements and the Timms Review
Evidence the DWP accepts for back pain claims includes MRI or X-ray reports, pain clinic letters, discharge summaries, physiotherapy reports documenting functional limitations and prescribed aids, occupational therapy assessments describing what claimants cannot do at home, and GP records.
Andy Burnham, who oversees welfare policy, is awaiting the final Timms Review report before making any decisions on welfare cuts, working alongside Chancellor John Healey. The interim report concluded that PIP is “no longer fit for purpose,” setting the stage for deep, sustainable reform.
TaxPayers’ Alliance calls for tighter criteria
Jonathan Eida, a researcher at the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “Taxpayers are breaking their backs funding the country’s crushing benefits bill.
“When every week adds hundreds more to the list, and scammers are caught coaching football while claiming they can’t walk, it’s clear the system is broken.
“The Government must tighten the criteria and ensure disability welfare only goes to those who truly cannot support themselves.”
A DWP spokesman responded: “The central conclusion of the Timms Review Interim Report is clear: PIP is no longer fit for purpose. The review’s final recommendations are due this autumn and will lay the foundation for deep, sustainable reform.
“These statistics only include a claimant’s primary condition, but it may be a different health condition that entitles a claimant to PIP.
“We are working to fix the welfare system so that it supports people who genuinely need it, while delivering fairness to the taxpayer – with reforms set to save £1.9bn by the end of 2030-31.”
The DWP spokesman emphasised that the figures reflect only primary conditions, meaning the actual number of people with back pain as a secondary factor could be higher. The final Timms Review recommendations, due this autumn, are expected to shape the Government’s approach to welfare reform, with savings projected at £1.9 billion by the end of 2030-31.
