The Daily Mail’s article about sickness benefits exceeding £25k is blatant propaganda and misrepresentation. It’s designed to provoke anger, not provide facts. Here’s why:

1. Cherry-picked maximum figures
It cites a rare, combined total from multiple benefits (Universal Credit + PIP + housing), but most people don't receive that.
PIP is not based on income or unemployment—it’s a difficult-to-access benefit for disabled people:

https://www.gov.uk/pip/eligibility

2. False equivalence with wages
It compares pre-tax, unearned support to post-tax, full-time earnings, ignoring real-life costs like transport, childcare, and job-related expenses:

https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/cost-of-living-and-poverty-in-the-uk-faqs/

And it falsely implies people are choosing not to work, when many are physically or mentally unable.

3. Stigmatising narrative
This isn't about "refusing to work"—rising long-term sickness claims are driven by:

NHS waiting lists: https://www.bmj.com/content/381/bmj.p1044

Mental health breakdowns: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-68390941

Long COVID and chronic illness: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/conditionsanddiseases

4. System is already one of the harshest

UK benefits are far from “bloated.” In fact:

Statutory Sick Pay is just £116.75 per week: https://www.gov.uk/statutory-sick-pay

Unemployment benefit replaces just 12% of average earnings—one of the lowest in the OECD:
https://www.tuc.org.uk/research-analysis/reports/universal-credit-and-working-poverty

5. Scapegoating tactics

This isn't journalism—it’s ragebait. It shifts blame for national economic failure onto disabled people, instead of tackling broken systems, NHS collapse, or workplace discrimination.