Disability claims from ADHD victims jumped by 20 per cent up to now 12 months

Disability claims from ADHD sufferers have jumped by 20 per cent in the past year,  new figures have shown. 

The number of people claiming Personal Independence Payments (PIP) linked to ‘hyperkinetic disorders’ (ADHD) rose from 75,722 in October 2024 to 91,211 in October this year, according to government data. 

The figures, published by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), reveal an alarming increase in the number of people claiming financial support amid rising levels of unemployment.

It was revealed earlier this week that the number of people out of work hit 5.1 per cent in the three months to October, up from 5 per cent in the three months to September. Outside of Covid, that is the highest level in nine years. 

The dramatic rise in PIPs linked to ADHD was cited in part due to a surge in online ‘sickfluencers’ publishing content on how to apply for various benefits schemes.

Claims for other ‘main disabling conditions’ that saw a notable rise in the same 12 month period included those for autism, which increased from 212,902 to 241,638.

Elsewhere, the number of claims for anxiety disorders and stress reactions rose from 58,339 to 65,538 and 59,790 to 64,849, respectively. 

The figures showed that overall there was a 6.9 per cent rise in the total number of people with psychiatric disorders claiming PIP, having soared from 1,4058,64 in October 2024 to 1,503,508 in October 2025.

PIP is a tax-free non-means tested benefit aimed at helping the disabled with the increased cost of living associated with their conditions. 

It is available to those with a long term physical or mental health condition or disability as well as those who have difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around because of their condition.

PIP can be paid even to people who are working, have savings or are getting most other benefits, with £9,747 being the maximum amount one person can be eligible for each year.

The DWP data showed that 3.9 million people were claiming PIP in England and Wales at the end of October – up by one per cent from the end of July. 

Of these, 37% were receiving the highest amount available through the scheme, the same level as in July 2025. 

Prime Minister Keir Starmer had sought to to trim the UK’s burgeoning benefits bill by £5billion, but was forced to abandon plans at the start of July following a major revolt by Labour backbenchers.

The proposals to tighten PIP eligibility were shelved pending a review by welfare minister Sir Stephen Timms – despite an official forecast revealing that, without reforms, the number of PIP claimants will soar from 3 million to 4.2 million by the next election.

The Government’s own forecast predicted that the cost of PIP payments will rise from £21.8billion to £34.1billion by 2029 and could lead to the collapse of the benefits system if changes are not made.  

The prevalence of social media influencers – dubbed ‘sickfluencers’ – sharing advice on how to claim disability benefits is thought to be partly responsible for the rise in such payments in recent months. 

As well as PIP, other benefits scheme providing smartwatches, wobble boards and fidget spinners to people with self-diagnosed mental health conditions has surged by more than a fifth in the last year.

Claimants can access nearly £70,000 a year for support and equipment under the Access to Work programme, which landed taxpayers with a bill of £321million for the year to March 

The initiative is only open to Brits who are in work or have a job interview, and is intended to boost employment among those with a disability or a mental health condition.

However, no formal diagnosis is needed, the grant is not means-tested and no assessment is required ‘if a customer knows their support requirements’.

And while applicants can use the scheme to access important services like sign language interpreters, many use it to bag free gadgets including sunlight alarm clocks, laptops and white noise machines. 

In one TikTok video entitled, ‘If you’ve got ADHD you’re really going to want to hear this’, a young man films a stash of equipment including a keyboard, mouse, noise-cancelling headphones, desk and a Dell monitor.

In another clip tagged #ADHDhacks, a TikToker reveals she is waiting on her own application before signing off by rubbing her fingers together and saying: ‘Show me the money, baby’. 

On Reddit, one client described being awarded an ‘Apple watch’ for time management.  While there is no suggestion any of these social media users have done anything wrong, their stories will fuel claims the scheme is overly generous. 

Last week, Health Secretary Wes Streeting launched an independent review into mental health, ADHD and autism services in the face of a mental health crisis which has seen numbers diagnosed with conditions spiral.

In the research, doctors also revealed their concerns about how hard it is to get help for patients with mental health conditions with 67 per cent of participants – 508 of 752 – saying there was rarely or never enough good quality mental health help available for adults in their area.

A minority of GPs who responded (81 out of 752) felt that mental health problems were under diagnosed.

Meanwhile, a small number of GPs were strongly critical of some patients. One described them as ‘dishonest, narcissistic… gaming a system free at point of use’.

Overall, one in five adults in England reports having a common mental health condition, such as anxiety or depression, according to a survey published by NHS England. Rates are even higher in young people; one in four of 16-24 year olds.

It is also thought that 2.5 million people in England also have neuro developmental conditions like ADHD – including those without a diagnosis. Some NHS services for ADHD are unable to take new patients because they cannot cope with demand.

GPs also identified 19-34 year olds as the age group who needed the most support with mental health issues and some 640 GPs (85 per cent of those surveyed) said they were worried about getting young patients the help they needed.

One commented that young adults ‘seem to be less resilient since Covid’, suggesting they’re more concerned with getting a diagnosis than finding coping strategies.

GPs, all of whom surveyed had been in the job for at least five years, almost routinely reported they now spent more time working on mental health.