The number of 16 and 17-year-olds receiving disability benefits for conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism has increased significantly in Britain, particularly in the country’s wealthier areas, according to recent analysis by the Nuffield Trust think tank. Personal Independence Payments (PIP), designed to help with the additional costs of living with a disability, were awarded to 51,148 teenagers in this age group last year, marking more than a threefold rise from 16,045 in 2019.

The growth in benefit claims has been more pronounced in affluent regions than in deprived ones. While the proportion of teenagers receiving PIP in the most deprived areas increased from 2.1% to 5.1%, a roughly 2.4-fold rise, the rise in the wealthiest areas was larger in relative terms—jumping from 0.8% to 2.5%, over three times as many. Areas such as Runnymede in Surrey and Bracknell Forest in Berkshire reported rates of about one in 20 older teenagers on the benefit, compared to about one in 60 in 2019 and one in 90 six years earlier. Rates among white teenagers were higher than among other ethnic groups, contributing to lower-than-expected claim levels in ethnically diverse areas.

Historically, disability and economic deprivation have been closely linked. However, the data indicate that this association is weakening for neurodevelopmental conditions like ADHD and autism. Experts suggest this may reflect unequal access to diagnosis, with wealthier families potentially having better access to health services and assessment.

A government review on ADHD diagnosis, chaired by Professor Peter Fonagy of University College London, is expected to recommend a more targeted approach. Rather than automatically offering formal diagnoses to those showing ADHD symptoms, patients would be prioritised based on the severity of impairment through a needs-based triage system. This approach aims to focus resources on individuals experiencing the greatest difficulties, such as those at risk of self-harm or unable to maintain employment.

Professor Fonagy challenged perceptions that younger generations are oversensitive or exaggerating difficulties, stating that “it’s harder to be young now.” His interim report highlighted concerns that the increase in ADHD and autism diagnoses may partly be driven by a "medicalisation of distress," where some normal psychological challenges are increasingly viewed through a medical framework. The review noted credible evidence for more psychological distress in young people but cautioned against overdiagnosis.

Sally Gainsbury, senior policy analyst at the Nuffield Trust, commented on the surprising pattern of rising benefit claims in relatively prosperous areas, where employment and education outcomes tend to be better. She emphasized the strain on health services, warning that overwhelmed systems risk failing those with the most urgent needs.

Thea Stein, chief executive of the Nuffield Trust, called for policymakers to understand the complex factors behind the trends to ensure effective and equitable support. She suggested that some needs might be better met through reforms in healthcare and benefits, while others might require broader interventions in education, employment, and societal attitudes to better accommodate human diversity.