Britain has witnessed a significant 38% increase in health-related welfare benefits over the past four years, with the number of working-age claimants rising to 3.9 million, or about 10% of the working-age population. This surge, highlighted by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), contrasts starkly with trends in comparable economies like Australia and the U.S., where benefit claims have either remained stable or declined. The IFS attributes the rise to the compounded effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis, exacerbated by strains on the National Health Service (NHS) and the structure of the benefits system. Under the current system, long-term sick individuals receive more generous support than unemployed individuals, which may contribute to the rising claims. The increase in expenditure on health-related benefits is expected to reach £63 billion by 2028-29, raising concerns for the government regarding fiscal sustainability and the need for policy intervention. The challenges ahead include addressing high inactivity levels and ensuring that the welfare system is both effective and sustainable.