Health
England's affluent areas see fastest rise in youth ADHD and autism disability claims
September 22, 2026 at 08:56 AM
Coverage
2 reports · 1 in Arabic, 1 in English · over 9 hours
Nuffield Trust research finds disability benefit claims for ADHD and autism grew fastest in England's wealthiest areas since the pandemic.
- Disability benefit (Pip) claims for ADHD and autism among 16–24 year olds rose 630% in Surrey Heath since 2019, against 30–50% in deprived towns.
- About 205,000 16- to 24-year-olds received Pip for ADHD or autism in April 2026, a threefold rise since 2019, costing £1.36bn in 2025-26.
- Nuffield Trust's Sally Gainsbury said findings reflected "substantial inequality in access" to diagnostic services, with wealthier families bypassing NHS waiting lists.
- A government-commissioned review concluded the system forces people to obtain a formal diagnosis to access support.