Martin Lewis wades into PIP benefits reduction plan row blasting it as 'hot air'

Personal Finance guru Martin Lewis today spoke out to reassure people concerned that proposed changes to the Personal Independence Payments (PIPs) are just that - proposals. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has announced a consultation on the changes which aim to reduce the benefits of more than 400,000 people.

One area which is being targeted is those getting financial help suffering from anxiety and depression. This has led to those vulnerable to the change getting very concerned, and Money Saving Expert Mr Lewis acted to say people need to realise that nothing has been decided upon.

Taking to X he said: “I want to say something to the people with mental health conditions that have got in touch with me worried/panicked about the govt news on possible benefits changes... NOTHING HAS HAPPENED.

- The govt has put out a green paper. That is an EARLY STAGE consultation document. After that may come a white paper.

- These things are not quick, if they happen, and this is a general election year - so whether it will happen at a question.

“This type of debate is given attention to create political news and put clear water between parties in an election year. Sadly doing that in the area of mental health, can have a real human impact, terrifying people about changes that may never happen

“So if you’re worried about it, while I know it's easy to say and hard to do, forget it - for now it is still political hot air.”

The Department for Work and Pensions has said there are now 2.6 million people of working age claiming PIP and DLA – with 33,000 new awards for PIP each month which is more than double the rate before the pandemic. This is expected to cost the taxpayer £28 billion a year by 2028/29 – a 110% increase in spending since 2019. It said: “This is in part fuelled by the rise in people receiving PIP for mental health conditions such as mixed anxiety and depressive disorders, with monthly awards doubling from 2,200 to 5,300 a month since 2019.

“Since 2015, the proportion of the caseload receiving the highest rate of PIP has increased from 25% to 36%. And many more people being awarded PIP now have mental health conditions than when it was first introduced.

“In line with the wider reforms to ensure the welfare system is fair and compassionate, the Modernising Support Green Paper proposals centre on targeting and improving the support for those who need it most.” Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “It’s clear that our disability benefits system isn’t working in the way it was intended, and we’re determined to reform it to ensure it’s sustainable for the future, so we can continue delivering support to those who genuinely need it most. Today’s Green Paper marks the next chapter of our welfare reforms and is part of our plan to make the benefits system fairer to the taxpayer, better targeted to individual needs and harder to exploit by those who are trying to game the system.

“We’re inviting views from across society to ensure everyone has a chance to make their voices heard and shape our welfare reforms.”