According to major media reports, the number of people claiming disability benefits because of food intolerances has increased by 500% in the past five years. This surge is part of a broader trend where around 20 illnesses have seen claims for Personal Independence Payments (PIP) double since 2021, including conditions like sleep apnoea, bed-wetting, and stress reactions to disorders. For food allergies specifically, only 12 people received welfare support in 2021, but the current count has risen to 78.
Additionally, 4,500 people are currently on PIP for being obese, highlighting the range of conditions contributing to the rise in claims. 60 a week due to the time required to prepare meals based on a specialist GP-recommended diet. PIP is under scrutiny as Britain's surging annual welfare bill of £333 billion has exceeded Treasury revenues from income tax for the first time, raising concerns about sustainability.
People with no legitimate claim are ripping off the public, and the Government is letting them do so.
A DWP spokesperson noted that these claims, which represent a small proportion of PIP, started increasing several years ago. Politically, former Tory minister Sir Alec Shelbrook has criticised benefit claims for food intolerances, saying that allergies do not stop individuals from going to work. According to Daily Express - Finance, Sir Alec Shelbrook described people with no legitimate claim as ripping off the public, with the government allowing it.
A former MP has echoed this sentiment, with the government saying that the public is being ripped off. It remains unclear what specific evidence supports claims of illegitimate increases or how the DWP verifies food intolerance claims for PIP. The proportion of the £333 billion welfare bill attributed to these conditions and any government actions to address potential abuse are also not detailed.