Affluent Areas See Fastest Rise in ADHD/Autism Benefits

A recent analysis by the Nuffield Trust highlights a dramatic increase in young people, aged 16 and 17, claiming disability benefits for ADHD and autism across England. Over a six-year period ending in 2025, the proportion of these claims in the least deprived neighbourhoods more than tripled, rising from 0.8% to 2.5%.

Although less affluent areas continue to have the highest rates of teenagers on Pip for autism and ADHD, their expansion has been at a slower pace. The think tank's research also indicated higher overall Pip recipient rates for ADHD and autism among individuals of white ethnicity, noting an association between being white, relatively prosperous, and faster-growing Pip levels for these disabilities.

In 2025, total Pip spending for 16-17 year olds with autism and ADHD was estimated at £296 million. Spending in the 40% least deprived neighbourhoods was almost four times higher in real terms than in 2019. Some affluent areas, like Runnymede, saw rates change from one in 58 to one in 19, while Bracknell Forest's rate climbed from one in 89 to one in 20. In contrast, deprived areas like Liverpool and Knowsley saw rates rise to around one in 12.

Experts suggest these trends may reflect unequal access to diagnosis or inconsistencies in how disability is understood and assessed within the welfare system and society. The rising demand for diagnosis and treatment is straining services, risking missed cases. Policymakers are urged to address this complex picture to ensure equitable and effective support, considering needs better met through healthcare, benefits, or broader societal changes.