Dozens more new disability claims in Brighton and Hove – as number doubles nationally

Dozens more people claimed disability benefits in Brighton and Hove in July than a year earlier, research shows – as the number doubled across England and Wales.

The figures come as a shadow minister says the Government "can't ignore" the growing backlog in disability assessments.

The personal independent payment is awarded to people with long-term physical or mental conditions, in order to help them continue with everyday tasks.

Analysis of Department and Work and Pensions figures from the Institute for Fiscal Studies think tank shows the number of new claimants in Brighton and Hove rose from 56 in July 2021 to 110 in July 2022.

Across England and Wales, the number of new PIP claimants doubled over this period, from 14,800 to 32,200.

The IFS said that worsening health was likely behind the rise and that there had been an increase across every age group, and for most major conditions.

Nationally, around a third of new claims were for mental or behavioural conditions, with the proportion rising to 70% among those aged under 25.

Sam Ray-Chaudhuri, a research economist at the organisation said: “Whatever the cause, significantly greater spending on disability benefits looks like it will be one of the consequences of this concerning trend.”

More recent figures show 12,584 were entitled to PIP in Brighton and Hove as of July – putting them among 2.7 million people entitled to the benefit across England and Wales.