Under both Conservative and Labour governments, the DWP have colluded with the press to demonise younger claimants living with mental health issues, ADHD and autism.  Ministers have joined in, to create a smokescreen which obscures the politically inconvenient truth that the majority of those at risk of losing their personal independence payment (PIP) under the Green paper proposals are older people with physical health conditions – many of whom have worked all their adult life until they became ill.

Sickfluencers

In January, the Canary highlighted the fact that “Disabled people living with mental health conditions came on the receiving end of an exponential surge in corporate media attacks against benefit claimants in 2024.”  It also found many articles “blaming the rise in disability benefit claims on the increase in claims from autistic people, and people with ADHD.” 

Sinister TikTok and Youtube “sickfluencers” who encourage young people to make spurious claims for benefits rather than find employment have become a staple of these hate tales, which continue to the present day:

Spike in disability claims for ADHD — as influencers provide advice  Sunday Times 14.04.2024

‘Sickfluencers’ help followers claim benefits as 15,000 a week approved  Times 30.11.2024

The benefits sickfluencers teaching Brits how to play the system and take YOUR tax to splash on flash cars and exotic hols  The Sun 07.02.25

The £3.5bn-a-year benefits bill for anxiety and ADHD  Telegraph 19.03.25

Disability benefits for anxiety and depression double since pandemic  Times 25.04.2025

And Liz Kendall, in her speech launching the Pathways To Work Green Paper argued that PIP claims were “rising faster among young people and mental health conditions . . . And the consequences of this failure are there for all to see. Millions of people who could work trapped on benefits… denied the income, hope, dignity and self-respect that we know good work brings

But, if this is the problem that the reforms are designed to fix, why are the bulk of the cuts aimed at older people with physical health conditions?

Physical health to be hardest hit

All the figures provided by the DWP suggest that it is physical health awards, not mental health or neurodevelopmental ones, that will bear the brunt of Labour’s cuts.

PIP awards at risk are those where the claimant did not score a minimum of 4 points for any daily living activity.  DWP statistics show that of all at risk awards for working age claimants:

  • 72% are based on physical health
  • 26% are based on mental health
  • 1% are based on ADHD
  • 1% are based on autistic spectrum disorders (ASD)
  • 0.25% are based on learning disabilities.

(Numbers do not add up to 100% due to rounding). 

Clearly, from these numbers, ADHD and ASD awards are not at the forefront of cuts.

The DWP did not provide us with a condition specific breakdown of awards, but even from the categories it did provide, the focus on physical health is very apparent.  The percentage of awards with no 4 point or higher descriptor is:

  • 79% for back pain
  • 77% for arthritis
  • 71% for regional musculoskeletal diseases (excluding back pain)
  • 68% for chronic pain syndromes
  • 62% for cardiovascular disease
  • 55% for respiratory diseases

By comparison, 48% of awards for anxiety and depression have no 4 point or higher and, as we have seen above, 19% for ADHD and 6% for ASD.

What Labour are threatening with their Green Paper then, is almost eight out of ten awards for back pain and arthritis being stopped and even awards for conditions like heart disease and breathing problem being taken away from well over half of all current recipients.

If Labour were honest about this, they would probably find their plans much harder to sell.

Older claimants to be hardest hit

The other claim being made by Labour is that these cuts are aimed at preventing a whole generation of young people becoming permanent benefits claimants and never experiencing the “dignity and self-respect” of work.

The truth is the opposite:  younger claimants are much less likely to lose their awards while older claimants, most with a lifetime of graft behind them, are much more likely to lose their PIP. 

According to the DWP’s statxplore, the percentage of PIP claimants aged between 50 and 66 is, for example:

  • 82% of those living with arthritis.
  • 79% of those living with respiratory illness
  • 75% of those living with cardiovascular disease
  • 63% of those living with back pain
  • 57% of those living with chronic pain
  • 54% of those living with regional musculoskeletal diseases (excluding back pain)

Claimants living with mental health conditions tend to be younger:  only 36% of claimants living with anxiety and depression are aged  between 50 and 66. 

Those living with  neurodevelopmental issues are even younger: just 4% of claimants living with  ASD and 2.5% of those  living with ADHD are aged between 50 and 66.

But, as we have seen, mental health and neurodevelopmental claims make up only a little over a quarter of all at risk claims.

Whereas, just the six physical health conditions listed above, include over half of all the 1.3 million at risk claims. 

When it all unravels

There is no question, as our research has shown, that claimants living with mental health conditions will be hit dreadfully hard by the Green Paper changes and some of them will be amongst the most vulnerable people in our society.

But the number of claimants with physical health conditions who will be plunged into desperate circumstances by a sudden drop in income will be even greater.

Labour ministers may well succeed in conning their own MPs into voting the changes to PIP into law before the summer recess.

But, when the cuts actually come into force in November 2026, the deception will not hold.

It will rapidly become obvious that Labour is systematically destroying the income, not of young people led from the path of gainful employment by greedy “sickfluencers”, but of older people with a lifetime of work behind them. 

And as images begin to appear in the press of disabled people close to retirement age, some using wheelchairs or supplemental oxygen kits, queueing at food banks and debt advice centres, Labour MPs may regret their gullibility.

By the summer of 2029, after two and a half years of thousands of older, disabled claimants being remorselessly stripped of their PIP every single month, there will be a general election at which they may regret it a great deal more.

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  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 hours ago
    In a programme of local government reorganisation 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 hours ago
    Is there any point in signing the online petitions? In the Dailly Records says they have responded to one and it's the same well rehurst lies and waffle.  
    And any one else unable to vote, I am from Crawley and the council is   that's convenient!
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 1 hours ago
      @No hope Yes there is a lot of point as it will show as a record in the future even if it is dismissed by the leaders now. You must vote and register to vote so that they can be held to account electorally. Sooner or later when they are out they will have to take stock of what went wrong and voting is an important thing. Remember Labour got in on the basis of 20% OF THE 33% Of people who voted so voting against them will hurt in the long run. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 1 hours ago
    It's awful what they are putting genuinely sick people through and making them more destitute.  They say it's to stop fraudsters but really it's a way to slash people's benefit. The effect on mental health will be enormous.  There is a lack of clarity on the time limited unemployment insurance for old style cb esa as it just refers to ns Esa and Jsa.  And afterwards if you apply for uc you have £50 a wk loss which is a lot.  It's so unfair.   Has anyone heard whether old style cb esa is included or not yet? 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 2 hours ago
    I think disabled people trudging into Food Banks will become normailzed. Just as in the United States people now accept seeing pensioners and the disabled among the street sleepers.This is part and parcel of human nature. Firstly the recognition of different layers of social status.Then stigma towards the lowest social groups. Followed by marginalisation of these groups as they are " othered " and stereotyped. The process is complete when the sub group is seen as different, to be avoided and is somewhat to blame for the situation they find themselves in. This unfortunate human trait is linked to " emotional reasoning " and no story is more loved by the Tabloid editor than the " dirty other " talking advantage in your town.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 3 hours ago
    uc and pip for ill people is a joke.making out people have loads of money when clearly there surviving on a pittance.the media should stop making out people are raking in 500 quid a week tax free most will be half that . by the  time u pay rent bills etc etc people have nothing. this goverment should be ashamed of themselves the stress there causing to people.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 3 hours ago
    You couldn't make it up.  Dwp have now sent out emails to the participants of next week's virtual meeting - and revealed the email of every participant.  Surely this is a breach of privacy? 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 2 hours ago
      @Slb Hi Slb,

      Would you be able to contact us at info@benefitsandwork.co.uk about this - we'd like to know more.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 5 hours ago
    The first virtual consultation meeting is next Tuesday.  Still no email from dwp to give instructions. And it's bank holiday on Monday, so if it doesn't arrive tomorrow we can't attend.  Perhaps that is the idea.  

    What's more, the only way to contact them about it is through email.  No phone or other means of contact.  What if people can't use email?  This is about the disabled and they can't even give alternative ways of communication.   If THEY can't, what hope do we have for other employers? 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 3 hours ago
      @Slb But they'll give you a choice of ways to contact them when you'd rather not. Funny that. Balls always in they're court.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 7 hours ago
    Is there anything we can do to alert people to this? 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 3 hours ago
      @Anniesmum I've just asked BBC Verify to look at Liz Kendall's comments & the fact that they are at odds with what the DWP is saying.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 7 hours ago
    https://www.prole-star.co.uk/single-post/keir-starmer-s-broken-promises-a-betrayal-of-socialist-ideals

    During his leadership campaign, Starmer outlined ten pledges that signalled a commitment to socialist principles. These included:

    • Economic Justice: Increasing income tax for the top 5% of earners and reversing cuts in corporation tax.
    • Social Justice: Abolishing Universal Credit and ending the cruel two-child limit.
    • Climate Justice: Putting the Green New Deal at the heart of policy.
    • Promoting Peace and Human Rights: No illegal wars and a review of all UK arms sales.
    • Common Ownership: Public ownership of rail, mail, energy, and water.
    • Defend Migrants' Rights: Full voting rights for EU nationals and defending free movement.
    • Strengthen Workers' Rights: Enhancing trade union rights and collective bargaining.
    • Radical Devolution of Power: Federalism and devolving power to local communities.
    • Equality: Enacting a prevention of misogyny act and closing pay gaps.
    • Effective Opposition to the Tories: Forensic and effective opposition in Parliament.

    These pledges were seen as a reaffirmation of Labour's commitment to socialist values. However, the subsequent abandonment of pretty much all of these ‘promises’ has been a profound disappointment.

    One of the cornerstone pledges was to increase income tax for the top 5% of earners and reverse cuts in corporation tax. This policy aimed to address deepening economic inequality and ensure that the wealthy contributed their fair share to society.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 5 hours ago
      @James Keir Starmer’s Benefit Cuts Cast Doubt on His Pledge to End Homelessness
      “If you take money away from people who haven’t got very much, you’ll get more homelessness” 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 8 hours ago
    They dressed it up as a moral crusade to help younger people avoid a life without gainful employment, but it's actually skullduggery plain and simple. I had to read the part about collusion with the press to gaslight the public several times to make sure I was getting the point clearly! They're just another government who take everyone for fools. This excellent analysis from B&W needs to be disseminated far and wide. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 9 hours ago
    Yes, and when they are indeed ‘caught out by the lie’ then what? We invite a Tory/Reform hybrid in to Downing Street to make our situation even worse…… it really does seem like the dismantling of the welfare state is already in motion…. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 6 hours ago
      @David It is, and has been for some time. They dare not touch the NHS though - many politicians of all parties would like to see an insurance based system introduced. Working in the insurance industry, disabled people will either be denied insurance or it would be prohibitively expensive.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 9 hours ago
    And the ex DPP will be telling the SS tribunals what to do from what they do at the moment.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 9 hours ago
    I have said it time and again. Do not call these people journalists. They have no understanding of what journalism is. They are commentators at best. Many of them are out and out criminals. It is not about the news. The news is of no consequence to these people. It all comes down to viewing figures and readership. And that ultimately boils down to money. 

    The fact that these people are always pushing there own agenda, vested interests, financial interests, personal opinions, grudges, political biases. The fact that it is so easy for governments and oppositions to recruit them in order to do there bidding. All you have to do is watch someone like Karoline Leavitt in the White House Press Room to see the true nature of these types of people. The BBC and their bias for the Palestinians. Sky and Fox bias towards Israel. They keep the war going and then profit from it by “reporting “ on it.

    What is shocking to watch is the parallels between what Trump and his cronies are doing and how that is being replicated in this country. Including the recent Supreme Court (activist judges?) in relation to transgender. I said sometime ago (not on here I don’t think) when will labour get around to hitting equality and diversity. They have already peddled stories about too many civil servants just like America. Taking money away from various minority groups. Even courting people like Musk.

    The BBC with their verify nonsense. “Our news is better than your news because we verify ours”. Notice when the BBC put out their so called business news that Sky has theirs at the same time. 

    What these people, like Fraser Nelson, really want is to be celebrities. There bosses want them to be celebrities. The more you like them the more likely you are to believe what they say. They are no better that the like of the Tate Brothers. They all just want to build their media careers and line their own pockets. At least with people like the Tate Brothers you can see their true nature. The problem with the media is they want you to believe they are giving you news when really they are just giving you their particular spin on the news.



    Unfortunately it is going to get much worse and not just for people who are disabled. All governments have to do is dangle money in front of them or the offer of a front seat at a “press” conference and the first couple of questions and you’ve got a friend for life.

    I know some people will say well there is such a thing as opinion journalism. No there isn’t. They are commentators. Such people should not be called journalists. Yes I know there are people who call themselves journalists who are sympathetic towards disabled people, transgender, etc… People who like to claim that MMR causes autism, anti vaxers, but they frankly are just as bad. They are all showing their biases and lack of regard for what journalism should be.

    They should give news with no spin, no opinion, no agenda. Preferably give you contrary opinions. Let you think for yourself.

  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 12 hours ago
    @James, "It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent"

    All of this government's powers will be inadequate in the face of the dissent over this green paper. The truth is being revealed, and they will be caught out in the lie which will prove to be the mortal enemy of their office.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 9 hours ago
      @sara Witch hunting.  Which will result in chasing Pennies while causing harm and spending millions.  All disguised As "Good for the commoners".
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 17 hours ago
    Shoutouts to Scorpion, Dave Dee, Matt, CaroA, James, and Gingin.

    Because your comments are always on point.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 3 hours ago
      @Anon 100% accurate. 
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 17 hours ago
    What we also need to take into account is the fact that, in addition to the proposed new scoring system, the DWP give undisclosed guidelines to PIP and WCA assessors, leading to a higher rate of failed claims. Whistleblowers and campaigners have also alleged that the DWP provide internal guidelines or instructions to assessors that are not publicly available. The DWP denied this, and this denial of undisclosed guidelines raises questions about the transparency and fairness of the assessment process.

    I bet Liz Kendall has got an additional pack of such undisclosed guidelines in-store.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 4 hours ago
      @Scorpion This may be crazy stupid comment, can't we use the freedom of information act on any of this?
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 20 hours ago
    Excellent work, B&W team.

    There's no end to their shameless bullsh*tting.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 21 hours ago
    I don't believe they are even going to stop at these numbers.  It will hit everyone from whatever group, it won't matter.

    Let's not forget that there is that other little hidden gem, hinted at in the green paper.  They are going to reform PIP at a later date.  We do not know what that reform will bring.  What further changes are they going to implement?  Further deliberately thought through tactics to hit anyone they haven't already hit?  They clearly have already got some form of ideas or plans and just haven't said exactly what it will be yet.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 22 hours ago
    It’s so cynical targeting older people whose bodies are breaking down. There is no work for damaged backs or arthritic joints.  Again how sad is this government. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 3 hours ago
      @Sam Disc damaged backs etc are very difficult to manage as they affect  mobility, sitting and standing. So it’s difficult to work. 

      There is little to no help from medics and dismissive attitudes from many on the condition.  

      Likewise arthritic/damaged joints as kat rehman has illustrated. 

      The heart may be willing to continue previous life of work etc but very difficult to do so without pain and further medical damage. 

      Employers will likely shun in favour of able bodies.  Not ableist - realistic. 
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 8 hours ago
      @WorkshyLayabout Quite likely, not least because, before long the state retirement age will be raised to 70 and possibly beyond. The state pension is by far the biggest element in the DWP's spending - but any substantial increase in the age when you can draw the state pension is politically very challenging. Whilst the right wing press don't like the disabled, a lot of their readership are elderly and they do vote.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 11 hours ago
      @Old Mother Yes. This is me. I have arthritis sciatica degenerative disc disease in my neck and I suspect I'm now developing carpal tunnel or RSI. I'm a 61 year old cleaner. I was advised 5 years ago to stop cleaning. I'm still cleaning. I wouldn't get PIP now even though I'm in pain every day. Wes Streeting can open lots of clinics, he can make more appointments available, he can do whatever, but my body (and now mind) are just worn out. I won't be able to keep cleaning til I'm 67: and where are the alternative jobs I could supposedly do according to this government? When a lot of vacancies advertised now aren't even anywhere near full time so employers can escape paying NI
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 14 hours ago
      @Old Mother Increased retirement age. Increase in disability benefits claimed.

      Could there possibly be a link? Hmm. I wonder...
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 19 hours ago
      @Old Mother I'm not one to agree with the tabloids or right-wing politicians but to say there is no work for people with damaged backs and arthritic joints is acutally a bit ableist.
  • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
    · 23 hours ago
    This article should be broadcast far and wide in media and sent to all Labour MPs.
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 8 hours ago
      @Moose yes
    • Thank you for your comment. Comments are moderated before being published.
      · 20 hours ago
      @Moose Moose, I agree. The research done by the  brilliant benefits and work team needs to be escalated to the highest levels. The whole of the country needs to know how under hand this government operates. 
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