The welfare bill for back pain has tripled in 20 years

Real terms spending on back pain by disability benefit, 2023-24 prices

DLA - disability living allowance

PIP - personal independence payment

£1.5bn

1.0

0.5

0

2002-03

2012-13

2022-23

DLA - disability living allowance

PIP - personal independence payment

£1.5bn

1.0

0.5

0

2002-03

2007-08

2012-13

2017-18

2022-23

Guardian graphic. Source: DWP benefit expenditure and caseload tables 2023. Note: DLA figures are for back pain - other / precise diagnosis not specified. PIP figures are for non-specific back pain and specific back pain