A new study by the Nuffield Trust has identified a counterintuitive trend in personal independence payment (Pip) claims filed by young people for ADHD and autism across England. Whereas disability benefit claims have historically been concentrated in economically disadvantaged regions, the research reveals that some of the country’s most prosperous areas—including Wokingham, Warwick, and parts of Hampshire and Surrey—have experienced the sharpest increases in these claims since the pandemic.
The findings indicate significant regional variation in growth rates. Surrey Heath saw a 630% increase in Pip claims for autism and ADHD since 2019, while relatively deprived towns such as Mansfield and Great Yarmouth experienced increases of 30% and 50% respectively. The researchers attribute this pattern primarily to differential access to diagnostic services. Wealthier families are better positioned to bypass lengthy NHS waiting lists by obtaining private clinical diagnoses, which substantially improves chances of successful Pip applications. The study also found higher claim rates among white people compared to other ethnic groups, with lower-than-expected claims in ethnically diverse areas such as Newham and Brent in London and Leicester.
The research found this trend unique to ADHD and autism, with no similar patterns observed in claims for learning disabilities, depression, anxiety, or physical conditions. According to Sally Gainsbury, a senior policy analyst at the Nuffield Trust, the findings reflect “substantial inequality in access” to diagnostic services, allowing those with greater resources and support networks to advance more quickly through the system.
In April this year, approximately 205,000 individuals aged 16 to 24 received Pip for conditions related to ADHD or autism, representing more than a threefold increase since 2019, at an annual cost of £1.36bn in 2025-26. The average annual claim amount was £8,800. These figures have intensified political debate surrounding the sustainability of working-age disability benefits expenditure, which is projected to rise from £14bn in 2019 to £34bn by 2030.
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