Families encouraged to claim sickness benefits by Citizens Advice to help with their bills

Families and households are increasingly being steered towards claiming disability benefits when seeking help with household expenses.

A government review by Sir Stephen Timms, the social security minister, found that close to a quarter of individuals who approached Citizens Advice about struggles with energy bills or rent were subsequently advised on making Personal Independence Payment claims.

Department for Work and Pensions officials discovered that support organisations, healthcare workers and benefits advisers were routinely directing people towards PIPs as they searched for ways to cope with mounting financial pressures.

PIPs provide up to £778 monthly to those with disabilities or long-term health conditions, intended to cover additional expenses such as home adaptations.

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Unlike Universal Credit, these payments are available to both employed and unemployed individuals and carry no means test.

Research commissioned by the DWP revealed that financial difficulties frequently serve as the catalyst for initiating claims.

Basis Social, which conducted interviews with charity advisers, medical professionals and social workers, discovered that "conversations about PIP were a significant part of their day-to-day workload".

The research practice found that general enquiries about money troubles often evolved into specific discussions about claiming disability benefits.

Helen Whately, the shadow work and pensions secretary, said: "Anyone encouraging someone to claim PIP should only do so if they genuinely believe they're entitled to it."

She argued that the benefit exists specifically for those facing additional costs due to serious illness or disability, not to assist able-bodied people with their bills.

Ms Whately said: "A system that can be exploited like this is clearly broken. That's why Conservatives will carry out a root-and-branch review.

"We'll replace it with a new sickness benefits system, which uses face-to-face assessments to make sure support goes to those who genuinely need it."

The number of PIP recipients has nearly doubled since April 2018, when 2.1 million people were claiming the benefit.

By April this year, that figure had reached four million, comprising 3.3 million working-age claimants and 700,000 pensioners.

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More than a million additional people have joined the rolls since April 2022 alone, with mental health conditions including anxiety and ADHD driving much of the increase.

The financial burden on taxpayers has grown correspondingly, climbing from £12.5billion in 2019-20 to an estimated £28.7billion in the current financial year. Sir Stephen's report projects costs will reach £41billion annually by the decade's end.

A DWP spokesman said: "The central conclusion of the Timms Review Interim Report is clear - PIP is no longer fit for purpose.

"The review’s final recommendations are due this autumn and will lay the foundation for deep, sustainable reform.

"This Government is determined to turn the tide on poverty after years of rising hardship.

"Household incomes have risen 5 per cent in real terms, food bank usage has fallen, and food insecurity is down.

"We’re also tackling the cost of living pressures by increasing the National Minimum Wage, taking money off energy bills and launching the Crisis and Resilience Fund.”

A spokesman for Citizens Advice said: "The people we help are often dealing with multiple, overlapping problems.

"Someone might come to us needing a fuel voucher, but leave with the support they need to address the root causes of their hardship.

"For people who are sick or disabled, this can include exploring their eligibility for PIP.

"PIP is a complex benefit, and our frontline teams help people who have complicated health needs, struggle with digital applications and might otherwise find it difficult to access help they’re eligible for and desperately need.

"We regularly speak to people who cannot afford to top up their energy meters because the electricity needed to power a lifeline mobility device, or the extra heating required to manage the side effects of chemotherapy, has left them unable to make ends meet.

"Waiting until someone reaches this breaking point is catastrophic for them and costly for the state.

"Fundamental reform is urgently needed to make PIP fair, compassionate, and straightforward for the people who depend on it."

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