Social Security Benefits
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of (a) Personal Independence Payment, (b) Universal Credit health-related and (c) wider working-age welfare expenditure in each financial year to 2030-31; what assessment he has made of the potential impact of increases in claims relating to lower-level mental health conditions on those projections; and whether he has considered bringing forward legislative proposals to reform eligibility criteria, fit note assessments, benefit cap exemptions and access to welfare support for non-UK nationals.
Answered by Sir Stephen Timms
Estimates of the cost to the public purse of Personal Independence Payment, Universal Credit health-related, and wider working-age welfare expenditure in each financial year to 2030-31 are published in: Benefit expenditure and caseload tables 2026 - GOV.UK.
The Department has launched the Timms Review to ensure we have a system that supports disabled people to achieve better health, higher living standards and greater independence, including through employment. The group has established its ways of working, themes for the Review, launched a Call for Evidence, and outlined its varied approach to evidence gathering. It will continue to meet regularly over the course of this year to determine the Review's strategic direction, priorities and its recommendations, and it would not be appropriate to pre-empt the outcome of the Review.
On 20th May, the Government announced that it would test fit note reform, launching pilots in four ICB areas across England. These pilots are funded by £3m for the year 26/27 and will explore replacing the traditional GP-led fit note process with stay in work plans that provide better support to people who fall ill at work.
No legislative proposals have been considered in relation to the other matters raised in your question.
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