Benefits advocacy charity Money Wellness has pushed back against suggestions that rising Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claims are driven by minor mental health or neurodevelopmental conditions. External relations manager Rebecca Lamb said: "The picture of someone claiming for a single mild condition doesn't match the reality for most people."
Most claimants face complex health challenges
Depression and anxiety remain the two most common health issues reported by PIP claimants, while neurodivergent conditions such as autism and ADHD also rank within the top 10. Recent media commentary has suggested people may seek diagnoses for these conditions to secure higher benefit awards, and a Government-commissioned report raised concerns over potential overdiagnosis of conditions like ADHD and autism.
However, a recent report from the Resolution Foundation indicates that the vast majority of PIP recipients deal with complex, overlapping health challenges. The study found that under one percent of PIP recipients report living solely with anxiety, ADHD, or autism.
Hidden costs of living with these conditions
Ms Lamb addressed the disconnect between public perception and the lived reality of claimants: "Living with anxiety, depression, ADHD or autism can cost more in ways that aren't always visible from the outside. That might mean taking a taxi because a crowded bus feels impossible, paying more for ready meals or delivery on days when cooking is out of reach, or running the heating more because you spend more time at home."
"For people with ADHD, missed bills and forgotten renewals can mean late payment fees and rolling on to more expensive tariffs. And people with autism may need things such as noise-cancelling headphones or specific foods because of sensory needs. Long NHS waiting lists mean some people end up paying for therapy or assessments privately too." She said living with these conditions can make dealing with household finances a challenge in itself.
PIP assessment and costs
Ms Lamb said: "Many of these conditions make dealing with money harder in the first place, because opening post, making phone calls or keeping track of bills can feel overwhelming, so debts can build up quietly. If that sounds familiar, organisations like us can help you check you're getting everything you're entitled to and work through any bills that have mounted up."
PIP is designed to help cover additional expenses associated with long-term conditions or disabilities. A survey revealed that 16 per cent of respondents reported not having any current extra costs related to their health condition. Ms Lamb said: "The 16 per cent figure needs to be read alongside what PIP tests. The assessment looks at what you can and can't do day to day, not at what you spend, so it was never set up to measure extra costs directly. People's health also changes."
"Someone who had high costs when they were first assessed may be in a better place now, which is what everyone would hope for. The report found nearly nine in 10 people have conditions that go up and down, so some may have simply answered on a good day."
PIP often falls short
In contrast, the study pointed out that for many claimants, PIP awards fail to cover their extra living expenses. Ms Lamb said: "What concerns us more is the other side of the picture. Among people who pay more for heating because of their condition, more than a third say they can never or rarely afford it. So for many people, PIP isn't stretching far enough to cover the costs it's meant for. There's clearly room for the test to match support to need more closely, and asking about costs at the assessment would help with that."
The Government is currently undertaking a comprehensive review of PIP, co-chaired by DWP minister Sir Stephen Timms. An interim report from the review panel set out that many claimants found the benefit "not fit for purpose", with some disabled people describing the application journey as "dehumanising" and "soul destroying." The final report with policy recommendations is set to be published in November 2026.
