The Guardian
· collected 2026-09-21 · by Patrick Butler and Will Parman
Researchers from the Nuffield Trust found that while historically, claims for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) due to ADHD and autism have been higher in deprived areas with poverty and low educational outcomes, there has been a significant rise in these claims among young people in affluent regions of England like Wokingham and Surrey. In some prosperous areas, the increase in PIP claims since 2019 exceeds that of more disadvantaged regions; for instance, Surrey Heath saw a 630% increase, compared to 50% in Great Yarmouth. The researchers attribute this trend to wealthier families' quicker access to private diagnostic services and their ability to navigate the complex PIP claims process more effectively.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-22,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
New research shows that claims for disability benefits due to ADHD and autism among young people are rising fastest in some of England’s most affluent areas, such as Wokingham, Warwick, parts of Hampshire and Surrey. In Runnymede in Surrey, around one in 20 young people now receive the Personal Independence Payment (PIP), compared to one in 89 in 2019. This trend contrasts with historically higher rates in deprived areas like Blackpool and Stoke-on-Trent, where PIP claims for these conditions are typically lower despite greater poverty and fewer educational opportunities. According to Sally Gainsbury from the Nuffield Trust, this shift likely indicates that wealthier families can more easily navigate lengthy NHS waiting lists or afford private diagnoses, leading to quicker access to benefits. The overall increase in PIP claims related to ADHD and autism has been 28% faster in England's least deprived areas compared to the poorest areas since the pandemic began.
Written for “ADHD Autism Claims Rise Affluent Areas” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
Some of the most affluent areas of England have had the sharpest rises in the proportion of young people claiming disability benefits for ADHD and autism since the pandemic, according to new research.
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Some → have → research
However, the fastest growth in ADHD and autism-related Pip claims has been in some of the country’s most prosperous areas such as Wokingham, Warwick, and parts of Hampshire and Surrey.
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growth → relate → Hampshire
This trend probably reflects swifter access to ADHD and autism diagnoses in more affluent areas, say the researchers, in part highlighting the ability of wealthier families to skip long NHS waiting lists and pay privately for clinical diagnoses.
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researchers → reflect → diagnoses
They say the relative gap in Pip claims between rich and poor areas is shrinking, with growth rates in wealthy places such as Runnymede in Surrey outstripping the likes of Blackpool and Stoke-on-Trent.
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rates → say → Trent
The research also found that Pip claim rates for ADHD and autism were higher among white people than other ethnic groups.
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rates → find → groups
This was reflected in lower than expected claims in ethnically diverse areas such as Newham and Brent, in London, and Leicester.
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This → reflect → London
One of the sharpest rises was seen in leafy Surrey Heath (a 630% increase in Pip clams for autism and ADHD since 2019), while in contrast, the relatively deprived towns of Mansfield and Great Yarmouth saw 30% and 50% increases respectively.
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towns → see → increases
The researchers say this shift is counterintuitive and unique to ADHD and autism.
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shift → say → ADHD
Records from GPs show higher rates of new ADHD diagnosis in relatively affluent areas.
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Records → show → areas
Sally Gainsbury, a senior policy analyst at the Nuffield Trust, which carried out the research, said the findings probably reflected “substantial inequality in access” to private and NHS diagnostic services, meaning “people with better resources and more support are often able to get to the front of the queue quicker”.
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people → carry → queue
It may also reflect the ability of more privileged individuals to navigate a notoriously difficult and unpredictable Pip claims process, Gainsbury said.
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Gainsbury → reflect → process
Obtaining a clinical diagnosis is likely to increase the chances of a successful Pip claim.
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Obtaining → obtain → claim
Pip is designed to help claimants with the extra costs of disability, such as energy, transport and food.
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Pip → design → energy
It is not means-tested or linked to employment status and is paid to individuals whose condition impairs their ability to carry out everyday tasks.
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condition → test → tasks
About 205,000 16- to 24-year-olds received Pip for disabilities linked to ADHD or autism in April this year, a more than threefold increase since 2019, at a cost in 2025-26 of £1.36bn.
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olds → receive → 1.36bn
The sharp rise in numbers of young people claiming Pip and other disability benefits, particularly since the pandemic, has been at the centre of a political debate about the sustainability of working-age disability benefits spending, which is forecast to rise from £14bn in 2019 to £34bn in 2030.
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which → claim → 2030
The issue has become a culture war topic.
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issue → become → ?
Rightwing media and politicians have questioned the validity of Pip claims they say are the result of exaggerated mental health symptoms, and alleged overdiagnosis of neurodivergent conditions.
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they → question → conditions
The Nuffield Trust research comes in advance of a government-commissioned report on mental health, autism and ADHD diagnoses.
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research → come → health
It is expected to recommend a “needs-based” system whereby overstretched NHS services target patients most acutely affected by ADHD, such as those who are at risk of self-harm or unable to work.
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who → expect → harm
Led by Prof Peter Fonagy, a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst at University College London, the interim review published earlier this year concluded that the system forces children and adults to obtain a formal diagnosis in order to get support.
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system → lead → support
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