The DWP pays millions of pounds every year to people who cannot work because of their weight

Obesity is leading to a spike in disability benefits claims, costing taxpayers nearly £144 million since 2019 as more than 5,000 people now get welfare payments due to obesity. Freedom of Information (FOI) data obtained by ZAVA from the Department for Work and Pensions reveals that in 2025, 4,413 people are claiming Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for obesity, a rise of 59% from January 2019 (2,780), with an additional 800 receiving Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).

Nearly 60% of claimants suffering from obesity qualify for the Motability scheme, which enables them to lease vehicles funded by the Government. In 2020, the year the COVID-19 pandemic struck, the number of claimants recei

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