Labour MPs have broken ranks to demand that Personal Independence Payment (PIP) be removed for claimants with 'mild anxiety', a move that would affect 633,000 people. The call comes as Prime Minister Andy Burnham opened the door to Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) cuts in a recent interview.
The Call to Scrap PIP
Speaking to The i Paper, a Labour backbencher said: 'If I had my way, I’d remove PIP for young people with mild anxiety. I say to parents: why are your kids on full PIP? Not only is it important for them to get off it, it’s an important symbol to the electorate.' The MP, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stressed that the current system needs fixing after a failed reform attempt last year.
'Last year’s attempt to change welfare was a strategic error. Because it went badly people noticed it. If we had never tried to touch it people might not have noticed, but since they did, we now have got to fix it,' the MP told The i Paper.
Burnham's Signals on Welfare Reform
On Monday, during an interview with BBC Panorama, Mr Burnham, the Makerfield MP, signalled that some benefits could come with tougher conditions. He said: 'It’s about changing the nature of the support and making some of the support conditional upon people taking opportunities that are presented in front of them.'
'Where mental health support is needed, for instance, it’s provided in work to support people in an opportunity,' Burnham added. He acknowledged that many young people have been let down: 'I wouldn’t necessarily go straight to blaming those people. There are people in the benefits system, young people in their 20s, who have been, I would say, quite seriously let down because the support wasn’t there for them when it should have been there.'
He also criticised the current trend of directing young people onto disability benefits: 'Young people are being told they have disabilities and pointed towards welfare. Worse still, those teenagers will be better off than their classmates who manage to get a part-time job.'
Statistics and Impact
The most recent figures from the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) reveal that 633,000 people were claiming PIP for anxiety conditions by July 2025. This group would be directly affected if the proposed reforms go ahead. The CSJ has long argued that the welfare system should focus on supporting people into work rather than long-term dependency.
Critics warn that removing PIP from those with mild anxiety could leave vulnerable individuals without necessary support. Mental health charities have expressed concern, arguing that anxiety can be debilitating and that PIP provides essential financial help for daily living and mobility needs.
Broader Implications for DWP
The prime minister's comments signal a potential shift in welfare policy under his leadership. Burnham, who took office after the last general election, has prioritised welfare reform as part of his economic agenda. The DWP is expected to review all disability benefits, with PIP likely to be the first target.
Labour insiders suggest that the party is divided on the issue. While some backbenchers advocate for tougher conditions to reduce the welfare bill and encourage employment, others fear alienating core supporters who rely on these benefits. The debate is expected to intensify as the government prepares a white paper on welfare reform later this year.
