Research has revealed a striking reversal in the geography of disability benefit claims for neurodivergent conditions, with some of England's wealthiest areas experiencing the sharpest increases in young people claiming personal independence payment (Pip) for ADHD and autism since the pandemic.
While Pip claims for these health conditions remain proportionally far higher in deprived areas characterised by poverty, low educational attainment and insecure employment, the fastest growth has shifted to prosperous regions including Wokingham, Warwick, and parts of Hampshire and Surrey. According to research published by the Nuffield Trust on 22 September 2026, this trend probably reflects faster access to ADHD and autism diagnoses in more affluent areas, particularly through the ability of wealthier families to circumvent lengthy NHS waiting lists by paying for private clinical assessments.
The relative disparity in Pip claims between prosperous and deprived areas is narrowing, with growth rates in wealthy locations such as Runnymede in Surrey now outpacing those in economically disadvantaged towns like Blackpool and Stoke-on-Trent. In Runnymede specifically, the rate of young people claiming Pip for these conditions rose from one in 58 in 2019 to one in 19 in 2025, while Bracknell Forest saw an increase from one in 89 to one in 20 over the same period.
Surrey Heath experienced one of the most dramatic increases, with a 630% rise in Pip claims for autism and ADHD since 2019. By contrast, relatively deprived towns such as Mansfield and Great Yarmouth recorded increases of 30% and 50% respectively. The research also identified that Pip claim rates for ADHD and autism were higher among white people than other ethnic groups, a pattern reflected in lower-than-expected claims in ethnically diverse areas such as Newham and Brent in London, and Leicester.
Why is this trend unique to neurodivergent conditions?
This shift is counterintuitive and appears to be specific to ADHD and autism. Researchers found no evidence of similar patterns in learning disability, depression, anxiety or physical conditions. Records from general practice surgeries show higher rates of new ADHD diagnoses in relatively affluent areas, suggesting the phenomenon reflects genuine differences in diagnostic access rather than differences in underlying prevalence.
What does this reveal about access to diagnosis?
Sally Gainsbury, a senior policy analyst at the Nuffield Trust, explained that the findings probably reflected
"substantial inequality in access" to private and NHS diagnostic services, meaning "people with better resources and more support are often able to get to the front of the queue quicker". The ability of more privileged individuals to navigate the notoriously difficult and unpredictable Pip claims process may also play a role. Obtaining a clinical diagnosis significantly increases the likelihood of a successful Pip claim, creating an incentive structure that advantages those with resources to pursue private assessment.
How significant is the overall growth in claims?
The expansion in Pip claims for ADHD and autism among young people has been substantial. Approximately 205,000 16- to 24-year-olds received Pip for disabilities linked to ADHD or autism in April 2026, representing more than a threefold increase since 2019, at a cost in 2025-26 of £1.36 billion. The average Pip claim for this cohort was £8,800 annually. According to analysis of Department for Work and Pensions data published in June 2026, autism-related Pip claims more than doubled from 103,414 in April 2020 to 258,539 in April 2026, while ADHD or ADD claims rose from 28,740 to 100,207 over the same period.
The broader context shows that the share of total Pip claims related to ADHD, autism, depression or anxiety rose from around 16.5% in 2020 to 24% in 2026. Overall Pip claimant numbers have grown significantly, with 4.01 million people receiving the benefit in April 2026, up 7% in a year and roughly double the number since comparable figures began in January 2019.
What is Pip and who receives it?
Pip is designed to help claimants with the extra costs associated with disability, including energy, transport and food. The benefit is not means-tested and is not linked to employment status. It is paid to individuals whose condition impairs their ability to carry out everyday tasks. Unlike some other benefits, Pip does not require recipients to be out of work, which has contributed to its expansion as a support mechanism for working-age adults with health conditions.
Why has this become politically contentious?
The sharp rise in numbers of young people claiming Pip and other disability benefits, particularly since the pandemic, has become central to political debate about the sustainability of working-age disability benefits spending. Government forecasts predict spending will rise from £14 billion in 2019 to £34 billion in 2030. Rightwing media outlets and politicians have questioned the validity of Pip claims, suggesting they result from exaggerated mental health symptoms and alleged overdiagnosis of neurodivergent conditions.
What does the government-commissioned review say?
The Nuffield Trust research precedes a government-commissioned report on mental health, autism and ADHD diagnoses. The interim review, led by Professor Peter Fonagy, a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst at University College London, published earlier in 2026, concluded that the current system forces children and adults to obtain a formal diagnosis in order to access support. The review has recommended moving towards a
"needs-based" system whereby overstretched NHS services target patients most acutely affected by ADHD, such as those who are at risk of self-harm or unable to work.
Key Facts
- Pip claims for ADHD and autism among 16- to 24-year-olds have more than tripled since 2019, reaching 205,000 in April 2026 at a cost of £1.36 billion annually
- The fastest growth in claims is now occurring in affluent areas such as Runnymede and Bracknell Forest, reversing the traditional pattern where deprivation correlates with higher disability benefit claims
- Wealthier families' ability to access private diagnoses and navigate complex Pip application processes appears to be driving the geographic shift in claim patterns
- The trend is unique to ADHD and autism; no similar patterns have been observed in learning disability, depression, anxiety or physical conditions
- Working-age disability benefits spending is forecast to double from £14 billion in 2019 to £34 billion by 2030, intensifying political scrutiny of Pip claims
