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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Anna Bawden Health and social affairs correspondent

Mental ill-health is behind soaring disability benefits bill in England and Wales, report says

Person holding their mental health antipsychotic medication
Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of working-age adults in England and Wales paid disability benefits has increased by nearly 1 million people to 2.9 million in 2024. Photograph: Kerry Gerdes/Getty Images

More than half of the increase in disability benefits is due to more mental health claims, according to research.

Since the pandemic, the number of working-age adults in England and Wales paid disability benefits has increased by nearly 1 million people to 2.9 million in 2024, with 7.5% of 16- to 64-year-olds claiming.

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