The numbers claiming PIP - the main disability benefit - has doubled since the pandemic to 4 million with particularly large increases amongst under 30s & over 65s. PIP claims for anxiety, stress, ADHD have all more than doubled. Some of the factors are well known - COVID, better understanding & detection of mental health conditions, fear of reassessments meaning a permanent loss of benefit. What’s less clear is why this problem is so much worse in UK than elsewhere.

During a discussion on PIP Dr Shani Dhanda is spot on when she asks: "Why do we keep needing to assess people who have life long degenerative conditions" #GMB