The Tories have accused Labour of being in 'denial' over the scale of Britain's 'broken' benefits system
The Department for Work & Pensions has finally admitted that Personal Independence Payment (Pip) benefits are unfit for purpose - because they are too "stressful" to claim.
A review, led by Disability Minister Sir Stephen Timms, has found that Pip claimants find the process of applying for the benefit "dehumanising”, “soul destroying”, and “degrading”.
Pip is intended to help with everyday tasks and extra living costs if someone has a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability.
The latest official figures earlier this year showed the number of people in England and Wales claiming the main disability benefit passed four million for the first time - almost doubling since 2019.
The number of claimants classed as having autistic spectrum disorders has more than doubled in six years, alongside the number with mixed anxiety and depressive disorders, while the number with ADHD has almost quadrupled.
The review was launched by Sir Keir Starmer last year after he was forced to climb down on plans to reform disability benefits in the face of his own backbenchers' fury.
The final report is scheduled to be published in the autumn, with ministers insisting the review will ensure Pip is “fit and fair for the future”.
The team behind the review insisted it will ensure their recommendations will be “bold in nature and bold in recognition of the wider environment in which disabled people in the UK are living”.
“It is not working for the people that go through the process, nor for a Government committed to supporting disabled people.
“We are committed to making changes so that Pip can fulfil its purpose for disabled people and those with long-term conditions, both now and into the future.
“Doing so will require us to be radical in our thinking and bold in our recommendations for reform.”
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The ballooning bill for British taxpayers to cover the benefit is set to rise from £26billion last year to £45billion by 2031.
And Shadow Welfare Secretary Helen Whately has accused Labour of being "in denial" over the state of Britain's benefits bill.
She said: "They have at last admitted it is broken - but what they mean is it’s too hard to get benefits and not generous enough.
“They couldn’t be more wrong. It does nothing to tackle abuse of the system.”
The Prime Minister has vowed to reform Universal Credit and implement a youth work guarantee scheme to help relieve the burden on the British taxpayer.
Teenagers and young adults continue to account for a growing proportion of those receiving Pip - with 16.6 per cent of all claimants in April this year aged 16-29, up from 14.3 per cent in April 2020.
While there has been a similar rise for the 30-44 age group, which accounted for 20.9 per cent in April, up from 18.7 per cent in 2020.
Meanwhile, there has been a fall in the proportion of claimants aged 45 to 59 - at 28.9 per cent of claimants in April, down from 36 per cent in 2020.
And the figure for 60 to 74-year-olds stood at 31.1 per cent - broadly unchanged from 31 per cent in 2020.
Sir Stephen said: “This interim report delivers a clear message: while Pip is widely valued as a benefit, it is not working as intended and needs fundamental change.”
