Key facts
- The fastest growth in disability benefit claims for ADHD and autism among young people since the pandemic has been in affluent areas of England.
- Researchers attribute this trend to quicker access to private diagnoses in wealthier regions, highlighting inequalities in healthcare access.
- Pip claim rates for ADHD and autism were higher among white people than other ethnic groups.
- Surrey Heath saw a 630% increase in Pip claims for autism and ADHD since 2019, while deprived towns like Mansfield saw 30% increases.
- About 205,000 16- to 24-year-olds received Pip for ADHD or autism in April 2024, a threefold increase since 2019.
- The Nuffield Trust conducted the research, with findings expected to inform a government report on mental health diagnoses.
The proportion of young people claiming disability benefits for ADHD and autism has risen fastest in some of England's most affluent areas since the pandemic, according to new research by the Nuffield Trust. While deprived areas typically have higher rates of Pip claims for these conditions, the growth has been significantly steeper in wealthier regions like Wokingham, Warwick, and parts of Hampshire and Surrey.
Researchers suggest this counterintuitive trend is unique to ADHD and autism and likely reflects disparities in access to diagnostic services. Wealthier families may be able to bypass long NHS waiting lists by paying for private diagnoses, thereby increasing their chances of a successful Pip claim. The research indicates that the gap in Pip claims between affluent and deprived areas is narrowing, with growth rates in places like Runnymede, Surrey, exceeding those in towns such as Blackpool and Stoke-on-Trent.
The study also found that Pip claim rates for ADHD and autism were higher among white individuals compared to other ethnic groups, with lower-than-expected claims in ethnically diverse areas like Newham and Brent in London, and Leicester. Surrey Heath, for example, saw a 630% increase in Pip claims for autism and ADHD since 2019, while deprived towns like Mansfield and Great Yarmouth experienced increases of 30% and 50% respectively. These trends were not observed for learning disabilities, depression, anxiety, or physical conditions.
Sally Gainsbury, a senior policy analyst at the Nuffield Trust, stated that the findings likely reflect "substantial inequality in access" to both private and NHS diagnostic services, allowing those with more resources to "get to the front of the queue quicker." She also noted that more privileged individuals may be better equipped to navigate the complex Pip claims process.
Personal Independence Payment (Pip) is designed to assist with the extra costs associated with disabilities, such as energy, transport, and food, and is not means-tested. In April 2024, approximately 205,000 individuals aged 16 to 24 received Pip for ADHD or autism, representing a more than threefold increase since 2019. The annual average Pip claim for this cohort was £8,800, with the total cost projected to reach £1.36 billion in 2025-26.
The significant rise in disability benefit claims, particularly post-pandemic, has fueled a political debate about the sustainability of spending, which is forecast to increase from £14 billion in 2019 to £34 billion by 2030. The issue has become a focal point in discussions questioning the validity of claims and the alleged overdiagnosis of neurodivergent conditions. The Nuffield Trust's research precedes a government-commissioned report on mental health, autism, and ADHD diagnoses, which is expected to propose a "needs-based" system to prioritize patients most acutely affected by ADHD.