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The number of people receiving disability benefits has risen sharply in recent years, pushing up government spending and prompting renewed debate about how the system should work.
In this episode, Helen Miller is joined by IFS economists Eduin Latimer and Tom Waters to explain how Personal Independence Payment (PIP) works, who receives it and why claims have increased. They examine the choices facing the government as the Timms Review considers the future of disability benefits.
Should PIP remain a universal cash benefit? Could more support be provided in kind? Should eligibility depend more on the severity or type of a person’s condition? And what would different reforms mean for claimants and the public finances? The discussion explores the difficult trade-offs involved in reforming disability benefits - including who receives support, what form that support takes and how much the government spends.
Zooming in discussion questions:
These are a set of questions designed for A Level economics students to discuss, written by teacher Will Haines.
- What factors can, and cannot, explain the increase in government spending on Personal Independence Payment (PIP)?
- What are the main benefits and costs of means-testing Personal Independence Payment (PIP)?
- Having listened to this episode, assess any changes you would make to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in the upcoming Autumn Budget.
Host
Helen Miller
Helen joined the IFS in 2007. She has almost two decades of experience analysing UK fiscal policy and providing trusted advice to policymakers.
Participants
Eduin Latimer
Eduin is a Senior Research Economist in the Income, Work and Welfare sector. His research focuses on benefits policy and the low-paid labour market.
Tom Waters
Tom is an Associate Director at the IFS and Head of the Income, Work and Welfare sector.
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