Sickfluencers and AI: How technology is changing the Health and Disability Benefits System finds evidence of large-scale online communities dominated by posts about what health and disability benefits people can claim, how to describe symptoms, what to include in forms including explicit encouragement to “lay it on thick.”

This report exposes the growth of influencer content drawing people in with large headline figures such as  “up to £62k” and “walk-through” guides with example answers for assessment forms.

Generative AI was also found to be assisting applicants with model answers to maximise their benefit awards even when they make it clear that they have no medical evidence for such claims.

The report is endorsed by a cross-party group of Parliamentarians including Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP, Lord Carter of Coles and Baroness Finn.

The report’s recommendations include:

• Redesigning application forms for Personal Independence Payment and Access to Work
• Strengthening evidence requirements, including requiring stronger medical evidence and  normally requiring a formal diagnosis for mental health conditions. 
• Making face-to-face assessments the default, with remote assessments used only where clearly justified.

The launch of this report was covered by:

• The Telegraph
• Daily Mail
• The Sun
• The Express (1)
• The Express (2)
• The Standard
• The Critic
• GB News (1)
• GB News (2)
• Talk TV
• POLITICO’s London Playbook
• Birmingham Live
• MSN