Young people in some of England’s most affluent areas are increasingly claiming disability benefits for ADHD and autism, analysis reveals.
Claims are rising fastest in wealthy neighbourhoods – reversing a long-established pattern in which disability rates have been closely linked to deprivation.
In relatively affluent Runnymede, Surrey, and Bracknell Forest, around one in 20 young people now receive a personal independence payment (PIP), which is intended to help with the extra costs of living with a disability.
That compares with as few as one in 89 in 2019 – and is more than one-and-a-half times the rate in Blackpool, one of England’s most deprived areas, where 3.3 per cent of teenagers receive the benefit.
In Hart, Hampshire, and Wokingham, Berkshire – both prosperous areas with high employment rates – the proportion of young people receiving PIP has risen more than four-fold since 2019.
Analysis by the Nuffield Trust found overall, the rise in PIP claims linked to ADHD and autism has been 28 per cent faster in England’s least deprived areas than in the poorest.
Researchers say the unexpected shift could partly reflect wealthier families having better access to diagnosis and greater support when navigating the benefits system.
More than 205,400 young people aged 16 to 24 now receive PIP for disabilities linked to ADHD and autism.
PIP is intended to help people with the extra costs of a long-term health condition or disability and is not awarded simply because someone has an ADHD or autism diagnosis.
Instead, claimants must show their condition significantly affects their ability to carry out everyday activities or get around.
For someone with ADHD, which stands for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, this could include difficulties preparing meals, managing personal hygiene, interacting with others or travelling safely because of problems with concentration, memory or impulse control.
People with autism may face similar difficulties, as well as sensory sensitivities and problems processing information or communicating with others.
Sally Gainsbury, a policy analyst at the Nuffield Trust, said: ‘Historically, disability and deprivation have been closely linked, because deprivation is both a cause of disability and poor health as well as an effect of it.
‘But our analysis finds that this link is weaker for ADHD and autism, and has weakened further in recent years.’
Researchers said the trend could partly reflect stark differences in access to diagnosis and support.
NHS waiting lists for ADHD and autism assessments have soared in recent years, while more than half of NHS-funded ADHD assessments are now carried out by independent providers.
Wealthier families are also more able to bypass long waits by paying more than £1,000 for a private assessment, the Nuffield Trust said.
They may also be better placed to navigate the benefits system and secure the evidence and support needed to make a successful PIP claim.
But the findings come amid growing concern that other factors may also be driving demand for diagnoses.
A separate review commissioned by former health secretary Wes Streeting found private providers were routinely misdiagnosing ADHD in children and raised concerns that ‘institutional incentives’ in the education and welfare systems could encourage families to seek a diagnosis.
Its final report, expected this week, is set to recommend that support in schools – including measures such as extra time in exams – should be based on a child’s needs rather than being dependent on a diagnosis.
It is also expected to call for waiting lists to be better managed so children at greatest risk, including those facing exclusion from school, are prioritised for treatment.
The Nuffield Trust stressed that the rise in claims could also reflect growing awareness of ADHD and autism and improved recognition of symptoms that might previously have been missed.
Researchers said the findings exposed ‘inconsistencies and uncertainties’ in how disability is understood and assessed, warning that overwhelmed services risk missing those with the most pressing needs.
A diagnosis of ADHD can aid benefits claims, such as personal independence payments, which have soared in recent years
They called for support to focus more closely on people’s needs and outcomes, rather than simply whether they meet particular diagnostic criteria.
‘As diagnosis and recognition of neurodiversity continue to grow, policymakers will need to grapple with the complex picture identified in this report to ensure support is targeted fairly and effectively,’ they said.
Around 2.5 million people in England are estimated to have ADHD, according to NHS analysis, including about 741,000 children and young people aged five to 24.
ADHD is a neurodevelopmental condition affecting attention, impulse control and activity levels, with symptoms including distractibility, forgetfulness, restlessness and difficulty managing time.
