UK disability benefit claims top 4 million for first time

The number of people receiving the main disability benefit in England and Wales has surpassed four million for the first time, according to new government statistics. Data released by the Department for Work and Pensions shows 4.01 million people were claiming Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in April 2026, an increase of 266,175, or seven percent, from the same month last year.

The figures indicate the claimant count has roughly doubled since comparable records began in January 2019. Mental health conditions now account for more than one in three claims, with anxiety and depressive disorders remaining the most commonly reported primary condition. Autism has become one of the fastest-growing reasons for claiming and is now the second most cited condition.

While more than half of claimants are aged 50 and over, that proportion has been declining. The share of claimants aged 16 to 29 has grown from 14.5 percent in 2019 to 16.6 percent in April 2026. A similar increase was recorded for the 30 to 44 age group. The latest data shows just over a third, 36.6 percent, of new claims in April were granted, a grant rate that has been on a general downward trend over the past two years.