Nearly half of Britons believe that an increase in fraudulent claims for health conditions is a primary driver of the rising welfare bill, according to a new survey by Ipsos in the UK. The poll found that 46% of respondents attribute the increase in working-age individuals receiving disability and health benefits to people falsely claiming conditions, a figure that has risen by two percentage points since March of the previous year.
Additionally, 43% of Britons feel that health benefits are being distributed too readily, an eight-point increase from the prior year, suggesting a perception that payments are going to those who do not genuinely require them. The survey also revealed that 47% of respondents agree that society increasingly recognizes conditions like mental health issues as valid reasons for not working, a four-point increase since March 2025.
A separate finding indicated that 28% of Britons believe the rise in welfare claimants is due to general practitioners (GPs) being too lenient in assessing individuals as unfit for work, also up four points from the previous year.
These public sentiments emerge as Prime Minister Andy Burnham has stated the UK "must get really serious" about controlling welfare spending. However, he faces internal pressure from within the Labour party, with some warning against pursuing punitive benefits cuts, recalling a previous revolt over welfare changes under his predecessor, Keir Starmer.
The number of people claiming Personal Independence Payment (PIP), a key disability benefit in England and Wales, has now surpassed four million. This represents a near doubling of claimants since 2019, with spending on PIP projected to exceed £41 billion by the end of the decade. Official statistics also show a 40% surge in disability benefit claims for ADHD since the current government took power.
The Ipsos poll also highlighted a shift in public priorities for the welfare system. Thirty-five percent of Britons believe that helping people return to work should be a top government priority for the benefits system, an increase of six points since March 2025. Regarding specific measures to address the working-age population not in employment, 46% advocated for retraining support, and 44% supported working with employers to create more flexible job roles. Furthermore, 31% of respondents indicated that benefits should be reduced for individuals not actively seeking employment.
Joanna Crossfield, research director at Ipsos in the UK, commented on the findings, stating that the polling demonstrates a "clear shift in public priorities for the welfare system, with significantly more thinking the system should focus toward getting individuals back into employment." She added that taxpayers expect the benefits system to provide a safety net while also delivering value, posing a challenge for the government. Crossfield noted that these expectations are accompanied by "a hardening of attitudes towards disability claimants" and persistent concerns about fraud. She concluded that as Westminster considers reforms, the public's focus on returning people to work aligns with the government's agenda, but reassurance is needed for both claimants and the public that essential safety nets remain for those in genuine need, with no tolerance for fraud.
The survey was conducted online between July 23 and July 24, with 998 British adults aged 18–75 participating.