The number of people on the Isle of Wight receiving Personal Independence Payment (PIP) has risen by a staggering 60% in just 5 years – with the number of 16-19-year-olds receiving the benefit more than doubling.
Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) data shows that 11,405 Islanders were receiving PIP in July 2026, compared with 7,124 in July 2021. This represents an increase of 4,281 people, or 60.1%, over the 5-year period.
The rise has been particularly pronounced among younger Islanders, with 633 people aged 16-19 receiving PIP in July 2026. That compares with 261 in the same age group in July 2021 – an increase of 372 people, or 142.5%.
There have also been sizeable increases among older age groups.
The number of 60-64-year-olds receiving PIP increased from 951 to 1,588 over the 5 years – a rise of 637 people, or 67.0%. Among those aged 65-69, the caseload increased from 810 to 1,328 – up 518, or 64.0%.
PIP helps with some of the additional costs associated with long-term disability or ill health. It is not an out-of-work benefit and can be claimed by people who are working, have savings or receive most other benefits.
Nationally, the number of people entitled to PIP has also been increasing. DWP figures show there were 4.1million PIP claimants across England and Wales at the end of July 2026.
PIP has been replacing Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for working-age claimants since 2013, although DWP figures indicate that the overall growth in disability benefit recipients cannot be explained solely by people moving from DLA to PIP.
The combined number of people entitled to either PIP or DLA across England and Wales increased from 3.5million in February 2020 to 5.4million in March 2026.
DWP says trends in PIP statistics can be affected by a number of factors, including demand, staffing and resources involved in assessments and decision-making, as well as external events such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Separate DWP research was commissioned after the department identified a sustained increase in new PIP claims in late 2021.
That research found that health deterioration, financial hardship and employment concerns were among the main triggers reported by people applying for PIP. Increased awareness of the benefit through services, friends and family was also identified.
The island is the Benefit Capital of Britain
SHOCKING
So many youngsters are work shy.
I remember seeing a benefit programme on TV a few
years ago.
When one of the youngsters was asked what will you
do when you leave school, one said he wants to do what
his father does. FCUK ALL
It proves people on benefits are better off than people
working.
Benefits capital, is it?
Why make statements like that when you clearly don’t know them to be true? It’s far more shocking that people like you are allowed to pluck checkable facts from the air and market them as truth.
No, the island is not a benefits capital by a very long way. East Lindsey in Lincolnshire is at almost 50%, followed by Tendring in Essex. several in Norfolk, 5 others in Lancashire.
In claims for SOME benefits, (for example Pension Credits) we do hit the top 20.
In unemployment benefits however the percentage reflect the UK average and we sit mid-table of ALL the unitary authorities in the UK.
What did your statement prove? It proves dog whistling tars everyone with the same brush, that one stupid comment from a (deliberately picked) kid can incite idiots to generalise about all and come up with far-fetched conclusions, and reality TV pap for the gleeful masses is fodder for Reform (and it’s potential voters) who want to scrap most benefits, including PIP. It MIGHT target any group swinging the lead, but it will equally target all genuine claimants who need help to live independently. Can’t see how Reform are going to address that one, can you?
Yes we must not allow Reform in. If they scrap some benefits that might actually save the country from bankruptcy, which is where we are heading thanks to a left-wing benefits-for-all ideology.
Once the socialists have run out of other people’s money let’s see how much benefit money will be available then.
FROM ONS: An estimated 13.5% of all people aged 16 to 24 years in the UK were not in education, employment or training (NEET) in January to March 2026.
Which suggests that 86.5% are in education, employment or training.
Do you just make stuff up to illicit a response?
What do people expect? Labour are in power!
Oops. Statement made before you’d investigated which government introduced it and made the rules, was it? Or that it came in under the newly created Welfare Reform Act of 2012 AFTER Labour left power in 2009?
Or that the Tories introduced it because they thought getting rid of the old DLA system would REDUCE costs and lower overall spending? Like they thought about Brexit?
Once again Labour, and those on the side of thinking things through rather than simply reacting are left to clean up the mess stupidity creates.
Society is broken no help no jobs…
This is a story about the financial help available to people with long-term disability or ill-health.
To respond that there’s “no help” to a story that’s very literally about the availability and uptake of help shows somewhat muddled thinking.
I have a feeling a large percentage live next door to me (unfortunately)
Word soon gets round.
Starts off in Fort Street and is in Calais a day later.
Fill yer boots dossers and be quick about it, cos’ there are thousands headed this way via Dover for their share of “free money”.
Still busy learning nothing and spouting cobblers I see. Just goes to prove it’s not possible to fix stupid.