Just one in four (23%) of the UK public back a potential government scheme to replace personal independence payments (PIP) with vouchers, according to new research from Savanta for iNews. One in seven (14%) say they don’t know.
A majority of all UK adults (62%) support PIP continuing to be paid into bank accounts, as do 2024 Conservative voters (55%), 2024 Labour voters (69%), 2024 Liberal Democrat voters (59%) and 2024 Reform UK (59%) voters.
Savanta’s findings also suggest that only 14% of the public correctly say that the average PI payment in England and Wales over four weeks is between £200-£299 (standard rate for everyday tasks is £290.60). Four in ten (39%) say that monthly PIP is above £500, and one in five (21%) say that monthly PIP payments are above £700
Despite this, UK adults are more likely to say that PIP is too low (30%) rather than too high (12%). One in three (29%) say it’s about the right level, and 29% say they don’t know.
Chris Hopkins, Political Research Director at Savanta said, “Benefit voucher schemes are simply not popular with the public, even for voters who traditionally support lower spending on the welfare state, such as Conservative or Reform UK voters. The majority of voters across all major parties believe that Personal Independence Payments (PIP) should be made in cash to a bank account, as is currently the case.”
“Interestingly, only one in seven voters could correctly identify a standard four-week PIP payment – most suggesting a level far higher than is the reality. Despite this, UK adults are actually more likely to say that PIP is too low, rather than too high.”
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