Britain's benefits bill could spiral further as social media influencers and artificial intelligence tools are accused of encouraging people to exploit the benefits system.
These so-called "sickfluencers" are reshaping how disability claims are made, raising fears more Britons are being taught how to "game the system," according to a new report.
The findings from Policy Exchange have received backing from Reform Shadow Chancellor Robert Jenrick, who warned of serious consequences if action is not taken.
The former Health Minister said the growing influence of social media and technology on benefit claims risks driving up costs and undermining the system.
"The ballooning benefits bill will bankrupt Britain unless the Government act," Mr Jenrick said.
"Those who've paid in and fallen on hard times deserve support. But as Policy Exchange's report shows, it's increasingly clear people are gaming the system, spurred on by social media influencers who are taking it in at the taxpayers' expense."
The investigation, published today titled 'Sickfluencers and AI: How technology is changing the Health and Disability Benefits System', uncovered extensive online networks where thousands of participants actively share tactics for presenting symptoms and completing application forms, with members explicitly urged to exaggerate the frequency and severity of their conditions.
Short-form video platforms are amplifying this content through algorithmic recommendations, pushing material to viewers who might not otherwise consider themselves eligible for support.
Creators attract audiences with eye-catching figures such as "up to £62k" while offering detailed tutorials on completing PIP applications, including videos specifically addressing mental health claims that have accumulated substantial view counts.
Perhaps most concerning, the report found claimants being directed towards generative AI tools like ChatGPT to craft and polish their submissions, even when applicants acknowledged possessing no medical documentation to substantiate their claims.
The report found claimants being directed towards generative AI tools like ChatGPT to craft and polish their submissions
| PAThe scale of Britain's disability benefits expansion is stark, with the number of people classified as disabled rising to 16.8 million in 2023-24, representing roughly a quarter of the entire population compared to 11.9 million a decade earlier.
Young people have experienced the most dramatic shift, with disability prevalence among 16 to 24-year-olds surging from 8 per cent to 18 per cent over the same period.
The economic toll of health-related worklessness now reaches £212billion annually, equivalent to approximately seven per cent of national output.
Mental health conditions account for a significant portion of claims, with around 1.5 million individuals currently receiving Personal Independence Payment for such diagnoses, a figure that grew by more than 100,000 in the past twelve months alone.
The report has attracted support from across the political spectrum, with former Downing Street Chief of Staff Baroness Finn and Labour peer Lord Carter of Coles both endorsing its conclusions.
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The economic toll of health-related worklessness now reaches £212billion annually
| GETTYBaroness Finn emphasised the need for balance in addressing the problem.
"The answer is not to stigmatise claimants, nor to turn a blind eye to abuse, but to modernise the system," she said. "Those who are genuinely unable to work must receive the support they need, and deliberate fraud must be met with firm enforcement."
Lord Carter described the analysis as "insightful and forward-looking," adding that it offered "a clear analysis of the challenges of getting assessment right, protecting the integrity of our safety net and encouraging more personal responsibility."
Policy Exchange has outlined a series of measures to strengthen the system against manipulation, with face-to-face assessments proposed as the standard approach rather than remote evaluations.
The think tank recommends requiring more robust medical documentation to support applications, including formal diagnoses for mental health conditions in most cases
| GETTYThe think tank recommends requiring more robust medical documentation to support applications, including formal diagnoses for mental health conditions in most cases.
Application forms for Personal Independence Payment and Access to Work should be redesigned and regularly updated to capture genuine variation rather than relying on simplistic yes-or-no responses, the report argues.
Claimants would also be asked to demonstrate how their awards relate to specific additional costs they face.
Gareth Lyon, Policy Exchange's Head of Health and Social Care, said the benefits system "was designed for a world in which information moved slowly" but technology had "fundamentally changed that environment."