Hundreds of Bolton teenagers were stripped of disability benefits in Bolton over the last decade after turning 16, despite receiving them in childhood. Children entitled to benefits can have a range of conditions, including young people with incurable and life-changing conditions such as cancer, epilepsy, deafness and blindness. From April 2013 to October 2024, 637 claims were rejected as the teenagers moved from Child Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) out of 2099.
A total of 71 per cent of these claims were rejected because applicants failed the points-based PIP assessment . The figures echo the national picture, between April 2013 and October 2024, about 423,000 initial claims for PIP from recipients of Child DLA were decided on by the DWP, 70 per cent of which were allowed and one per cent of which were withdrawn. Read more: Government will ‘stretch every sinew’ to get young people into work – minister Read more: Chancellor urged to safeguard disability benefits from welfare reform cuts Recently, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called the current benefits system “unsustainable, indefensible and unfair”.
His comments, which also saw him refer to the system as “the worst of all worlds”, come as Work and Pensions secretary Liz Kendal prepares to announce widespread changes and cuts to the benefits bill. Read more: Mum-of-three 'earns while she learns' through apprenticeship scheme James Taylor, executive director of strateg.
