Reform UK has unveiled proposals to overhaul the Personal Independence Payment (Pip) system, claiming it could save up to £9bn annually. MP Lee Anderson and policy chief Zia Yusuf outlined plans to exclude claimants with less severe psychological conditions like anxiety and to mandate face-to-face assessments for all recipients.
Anderson, a former Citizens Advice worker, admitted to 'gaming the system' in his previous role to help clients secure benefits. He claimed he could get 'the fittest man in Ashfield' approved for Disability Living Allowance, and alleged that online tutorials teach people how to manipulate Pip applications, especially during remote assessments.
Yusuf criticised the current system for 'labelling' young people and 'tossing them on a scrap heap for the rest of their lives'. He argued that reassessments are rarely conducted, trapping individuals in dependency. Both stressed that many claimants are genuine but insisted reforms are needed to curb abuse.
Anderson mocked symptoms of anxiety and depression, such as persistent sadness, quipping he had felt that way since Labour's election victory in July 2024. He claimed a 'generation of young people have forgotten about getting up in the morning and going to work'.
Yusuf estimated the cost of reinstating full face-to-face appointments and employment support at around £100m annually, a fraction of the projected savings. The government and Conservatives have also pledged to cut Pip spending, though previous attempts faced rebellion.
