The number of people claiming Personal Independence Payments (PIP) for ADHD has jumped by 20% in the past year, according to new government figures. Data from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) shows that claims linked to hyperkinetic disorders rose from 75,722 in October 2024 to 91,211 in October 2025.
The rise comes amid increasing unemployment, with the jobless rate hitting 5.1% in the three months to October, the highest level in nine years outside of the pandemic. Claims for other conditions also increased, including autism (up from 212,902 to 241,638), anxiety disorders (58,339 to 65,538), and stress reactions (59,790 to 64,849). Overall, psychiatric disorder-related PIP claims rose by 6.9% to 1.5 million.
The DWP data shows that 3.9 million people were claiming PIP in England and Wales by the end of October, up 1% from July. Of these, 37% received the maximum annual amount of £9,747. The surge is partly attributed to online 'sickfluencers' sharing advice on how to apply for benefits.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had planned to cut the benefits bill by £5 billion but abandoned the proposal in July after a Labour backbench revolt. Welfare minister Sir Stephen Timms is reviewing PIP eligibility, as official forecasts predict claimant numbers will rise from 3 million to 4.2 million by the next election, with costs soaring from £21.8 billion to £34.1 billion by 2029.
The Access to Work programme, which provides equipment like smartwatches and fidget spinners without requiring a formal diagnosis, has also seen a surge in claims, costing taxpayers £321 million in the last year.
