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Think Tank Urges Cuts to UK Disability Benefits for Milder Conditions as £27bn Bill Looms

The Centre for Social Justice proposes removing UC health plus PIP from around 1.1 million people with milder anxiety, depression or ADHD, with remaining awards reset to £103 a week.

Overview

  • CSJ says withdrawing the UC health element and PIP from people with milder mental health or ADHD conditions would affect roughly 1.1 million claimants.
  • The package is estimated to save about £7.4bn by 2029/30, with at least £1bn proposed for expanded NHS Talking Therapies, social prescribing and employment support.
  • Recommendations include a Future Workforce Credit to incentivise hiring young people not in education, employment or training, targeting 120,000 jobs and £765m in net savings.
  • Separate DWP measures already legislated for April 2026 raise the UC standard allowance above inflation, cut the health top-up for new claims to £50 a week and provide reassessment exemptions for the most severe conditions.
  • CSJ projects disability-related benefits could rise from about £49.6bn to over £72bn by 2030, a shift it says would add roughly £580–£700 per taxpayer, as ministers face pressure ahead of the 26 November Budget.