Alarm as Britain's disability benefits bill rockets by 109% - 'should be a wake-up call'

详细摘要

Britons are 'not getting twice as sick' but the jump in the benefits bill has fuelled fears Labour will fail to get a grip on surging spending ...

Britain's disability benefits bill has rocketed by 109% in the past five years, according to a new analysis which lays bare the cost to the taxpayer. The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) warns spending on disability benefits has more than doubled in just five years, with Personal Independence Payment (PIP) expenditure in England and Wales “soaring” from £13.7billion to £28.5billion.

Its research team is alarmed that Britain's overall welfare bill, including pensions, has hit £334billion, more than the £329 billion raised through income tax. They are concerned that state pension spending increased by 43% in half a decade, from £102billion in 2020-21 to £146billion in 2025-26.

Dr Valentin Boboc, chief economist at the Institute of Economic Affairs, said: “Disability benefit spending has more than doubled in just five years, adding nearly £15billion to the annual welfare bill.

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