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Disability benefit claims in England and Wales have surged from three million in 2019 to four million in 2025, largely driven by mental health conditions. The government's scaled-back reform plan, facing Labour pressure, will only affect new claimants. While remote assessments during the pandemic may have played a role, researchers cite rising state pension age and increased awareness of benefits as contributing factors. The government's projected savings from reforms have been halved to £2.5 billion annually.

Prepared by Christopher Adams and reviewed by editorial team.