Anxiety and depression have been singled out as the two conditions most likely to be cut from Personal Independence Payments, putting 360,000 existing claimants at risk of losing support. The warning follows an interim government review which has declared the current disability benefit "not fit for purpose".
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) review, which examines the soaring cost of PIP, found that claims for these mental health conditions have risen dramatically in recent years. PIP is paid to around four million people across Britain, and the rising number of claims has put the system under significant financial strain.
How anxiety and depression claims have surged
According to the interim review, the proportion of PIP claims related to anxiety and depression jumped from 5.9 per cent in 2020 to 8.1 per cent in 2025. This was described as the "most significant increase" among all condition groups.
The review document noted: "All conditions groups have shown some increase over time with the exception of all other psychiatric and neurodevelopmental conditions group; however, the extent of increase varies across conditions. Anxiety and depression show the most significant increase, rising sharply from 5.9 in 2020 to 8.1 per cent in 2025."
What the PIP overhaul could mean
The government is considering two key changes: rejecting new claims for anxiety and depression, and reassessing existing claimants to see if they still qualify. Any such move would affect a substantial portion of the PIP caseload, given that 360,000 people currently receive the benefit for these conditions.
The final decision will rest with Andy Burnham and Chancellor John Healey, who are expected to act on the recommendations once the review concludes in November. The interim findings have already sparked concern among disability advocacy groups, who argue that reassessments could cause unnecessary distress for vulnerable claimants.
Burnham's stance on benefit reform
Andy Burnham has made clear he is opposed to "crude" cuts but has signalled openness to making support conditional. He told the BBC: "It's about changing the nature of the support and making some of the support conditional upon people taking opportunities that are presented. And where mental health support is needed for instance, it's provided in work to support people in an opportunity."
This suggests the government may look to tie PIP payments to engagement with employment support or mental health services, rather than simply removing benefits. Burnham's comments point towards a system where claimants are expected to actively participate in measures designed to improve their capacity to work.
A wider trend in disability claims
The surge in anxiety and depression claims is part of a broader pattern across most condition groups. The only exception, according to the review, was the "all other psychiatric and neurodevelopmental conditions" group, which did not show the same upward trajectory. This detail could influence how the government decides which conditions to target in the planned reforms.
The overall cost of PIP has spiralled as claims have increased, and ministers are under pressure to bring spending under control. The review's conclusion that the current system is not fit for purpose means that structural changes are likely, rather than minor adjustments.
What happens next
With the final review due in November, the future of PIP will soon become clearer. For the 360,000 people claiming for anxiety and depression, the outcome could mean a fundamental shift in how their support is assessed and delivered. The decisions taken by Burnham and Healey will determine whether those claimants keep their current payments or face a new, more restrictive system.
