Teenagers and young adults account for nearly one in three people who have recently started claiming disability benefit for anxiety disorders, according to research. Data from the Department for Work and Pensions shows that 24,681 people in England and Wales were receiving personal independence payment (PIP) with a primary condition of anxiety disorder at the end of July this year, having claimed for up to two years.
Of these, 7,403 people – 30% – were aged 16 to 24, according to analysis by the Press Association. A further 5,445, or 22%, were aged 25 to 34, meaning more than half of recent PIP claimants for anxiety disorders have not yet reached their mid-30s.
Anxiety disorder types and age breakdown
The anxiety disorder category includes several conditions, such as panic disorder – where someone regularly has sudden attacks of panic or fear – and social phobias, which the NHS defines as a disorder resulting in a long-term and overwhelming fear of social situations.
Older age groups make up much smaller proportions of recent claimants. While 3,391 people (14%) who have been claiming for up to two years are aged 45 to 54, 2,649 (11%) are aged 55 to 64, and just 438 (2%) are 65 or over. Some 5,350 claimants (22%) are aged 35 to 44.
What is PIP and who can claim it?
PIP is the main benefit paid to someone who has a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability, and is intended to help with associated extra living costs. People can receive PIP even if they are working, have savings, or are getting other benefits, and can start claiming from the age of 16.
The Press Association based its analysis on the latest PIP claimant data published by the Department for Work and Pensions. A total of 72,195 claimants are listed as having anxiety disorder as their primary condition as of July 31 this year, including the 24,681 who have been receiving the benefit for up to two years. Of all claimants with anxiety disorders, 21% are aged 16 to 24, compared with 30% of those who have only been claiming for up to two years.
Experts question the statistics
Consultant psychiatrist Dr Jed Boardman said the figures as officially recorded likely "don't tell the whole story," as many people will have "multiple disabling conditions," made up of mental and physical health symptoms, as well as other conditions such as autism. Dr Boardman, the lead for social inclusion at the Royal College of Psychiatrists, told the Press Association: "The diagnostic statistics that the Government has produced may help us understand the general picture, but they don't reveal the necessary level of detail."
"They can be misleading because they only tell a portion of the story about those people." He added that it is "very likely" there are issues in the way the statistics are recorded, saying while there "must be some reason" claimants have been listed as having social anxiety as their primary condition, "it's not telling the whole story."
Dr Boardman said people who develop anxiety are likely to have had "adverse childhood experiences" such as physical and sexual abuse and neglect. "People who develop depression or anxiety are much more likely to have experienced those sort of experiences in childhood," he said.
Within the 72,195 PIP claimants with anxiety disorders as of July 31 this year, 3,554 were listed with social phobia as their primary condition, of which 1,238 (35%) were aged 16 to 24. The NHS describes social phobia as "more than shyness," saying it is a "fear that does not go away and affects everyday activities, self-confidence, relationships and work or school life." There were 3,851 claimants for panic disorder, of which 487 (13%) were 16 to 24-year-olds.
PIP review and government response
A Government-commissioned review into the costs and operation of PIP is due to be published later this autumn, with an interim report in July having branded the system "no longer fit for purpose." A total of 4.09 million people in England and Wales were entitled to claim PIP as of July 31 2026, up from 3.83 million a year earlier – a rise of 262,045, or 7%.
A Government spokesperson said: "The increase in the PIP caseload has slowed under this government, falling from 400,000 in the 12 months to July 2024, to 260,000 in the 12 months to July 2026. But as the Timms Review report made clear, PIP is no longer fit for purpose and the recommendations from its final report will lay the foundation for sustainable reform."
"We have also invested in mental health support in schools, colleges and communities, as part of a renewed focus on prevention and early intervention, to make sure that people receive the right help, at the right time – including responding to the findings from Professor Fonagy's independent review."
