Sara Middleton, 47, from Chesterfield, Derbyshire, posts TikTok content advising how to claim Personal Independence Payments (PIP), according to multiple reports. There are around 4 million PIP claimants in England and Wales, a figure that has doubled since January 2019. The cost of PIP for anxiety alone rose from under £100 million in 2019 to nearly £427 million last year.
Middleton receives £749 per month in PIP for fibromyalgia, spinal issues, chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, anxiety, and chest inflammation. She works as a motor finance administrator. According to Daily Mail - Health, Middleton described that she never set out to do TikTok but has now found her tribe on social media.
One of Middleton's videos on 'two big mistakes people make that cause them to fail their PIP review' has 230,000 views. Another video on how to avoid losing PIP support after a change of circumstances has nearly 100,000 views.
Middleton has been accused by unnamed critics of helping people 'cheat, scam or hack the system'. She denies helping people cheat the system, saying she aims to 'educate, advocate and empower'. According to Daily Mail - Health, Middleton described that the biggest misconception is that you can help someone cheat the system, and all she is trying to do is educate. She also said that PIP is the hardest support to get, and she just tries to explain to people how to communicate with the Department for Work and Pensions to get benefits they are eligible for. She added that she is just helping people to stand up for themselves and what they need, and their evidence still has to back it up.
Middleton believes politicians and media are to blame for creating a false narrative around disability benefits. According to Daily Mail - Health, Middleton described that there is an awful lot of hate online, especially around benefits like PIP and the Motability scheme. She also said that people have this idea that you can go to a doctor, tell them you're a bit sad to get diagnosed with depression, then get PIP and a free BMW. She added that people forget that nobody is exempt from becoming ill, and it could be them one day. Sir Keir Starmer abandoned welfare reforms that attempted to restrict PIP access due to a Labour revolt.