Nearly half of Britons attribute the increase in the nation's benefits bill to individuals falsely claiming health conditions, a new Ipsos poll indicates. The survey reveals that 46 percent of voters believe more people are attempting to defraud the system by claiming non-existent health issues, a slight increase from the previous year.
Shifting Public Opinion on Benefits
The poll also found that 43 percent of Britons think health benefits are being distributed too readily, with an eight-point rise in those who believe payments are going to individuals who do not genuinely need them. Concurrently, 47 percent agreed that society now recognizes a broader range of health conditions, including mental health issues, as valid reasons for not working, a four-point increase since March 2025.
Further contributing to the perceived rise in welfare claimants, 28 percent of respondents cited general practitioners assessing individuals as unfit for work too easily, also up four points from last year. The survey of 998 British adults was conducted online between July 23 and 24.
Political Context and Proposed Reforms
The findings emerge as Prime Minister Andy Burnham has expressed a desire to curb welfare spending, stating that Britain "must get really serious" about the issue. However, he faces potential opposition from the Labour Left, who have cautioned against pursuing "punitive" benefits cuts. Previous attempts by the government to reform welfare, notably by former Prime Minister Keir Starmer, led to significant internal dissent and were eventually withdrawn.
The number of individuals in England and Wales claiming Personal Independence Payment (PIP), the primary disability benefit, has surpassed four million for the first time. This figure has approximately doubled since 2019, with spending on PIP projected to exceed £41 billion by the end of the decade. Official statistics indicate a 40 percent surge in disability benefit claims related to ADHD since the Labour party came into power.
Public Priorities for the Welfare System
Regarding priorities for the benefits system, 35 percent of Britons believe that supporting individuals to return to work should be a top government focus, a six-point increase since March 2025. To address the number of working-age individuals not in employment, 46 percent of those surveyed advocated for increased retraining support, while 44 percent favored collaboration with employers to develop more flexible job roles. Additionally, 31 percent suggested that benefits should be reduced for those not actively seeking employment.
Joanna Crossfield, research director at Ipsos in the UK, noted a significant shift in public priorities for the welfare system, with a greater emphasis on returning individuals to employment. She highlighted the challenge for the government in balancing taxpayer expectations for a reliable safety net and good value with a public sentiment that is hardening towards disability claimants and concerns over fraud. Crossfield emphasized the need for reassurance that essential safety nets are available for those who truly need them, with no tolerance for fraud.