PIP claimants in England and Wales have exceeded four million for the first time, according to new figures released by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
Record Number of Claimants
The DWP reported 4.01 million claimants in April 2026, representing a 7% increase from 3.74 million the previous year. The number has approximately doubled since records began in January 2019, when there were 2.05 million claimants.
Government Reforms Delayed
The Government has delayed reforms to the disability benefit system following the establishment of the Timms Review. A DWP spokesperson stated they are "fixing the broken system we inherited by creating a welfare state that works for disabled people and taxpayers".
Younger Claimants on the Rise
Data shows younger people are increasingly claiming PIP, with 16.6% of claimants aged 16-29 compared to 14.5% in 2019. Meanwhile, approval rates for new claims have declined to 36.6% in April, down from 46.2% in April 2024.
Right to Try Scheme Introduced
The Government introduced the Right to Try scheme in April, allowing disabled claimants to seek work without automatically triggering benefit reassessments. Downing Street said the welfare system "has trapped people in poverty and kept them out of work for too long".
Conservative Response
Shadow work and pensions secretary Helen Whately said the Conservatives would "review the entire PIP system" and "remove eligibility for low-level mental health PIP claims".
