New data from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) reveals that autism and ADHD claimants face the highest rates of failed Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessments, with failure rates around three times the overall average. Among 50 conditions with the most completed change of circumstance reviews, autism claimants failed their assessments 17% of the time, while ADHD claimants failed 16% of the time.
Overall PIP Assessment Outcomes
In the year leading up to April 2026, over 10,000 claimants per month requested a change of circumstances review. Of these, only 5% failed their assessment, while 38% saw their award increase. Nearly half (49%) saw no change, and 3% experienced a reduction in their DWP payments.
The disparity is stark: autism and ADHD failure rates are more than triple the 5% average. Furthermore, autism claimants saw their payments cut in 9% of cases, and ADHD claimants in 5% of cases—both above the 3% average reduction rate.
Impact on Award Changes
For autism, 27% of claimants saw their award remain the same, while 42% of ADHD claimants experienced no change. Increases were awarded to 28% of ADHD claimants and 27% of autism claimants, both below the 38% average increase rate.
Benefits and Work, a leading welfare rights organisation, highlighted the trend: "ADHD, anxiety, autism, learning disabilities and depressive disorders all had a below average proportion of claimants getting an increase in their award."
Surge in PIP Claims for ADHD and Anxiety
The data also shows a dramatic rise in PIP claims for these conditions. In April 2026, 100,171 people in England and Wales were claiming PIP with ADHD as their main condition—nearly five times the 21,981 claimants in January 2019. Similarly, 69,430 people claimed PIP with anxiety disorders as their main condition in April 2026, up from 21,704 in January 2019, a threefold increase.
Government Concerns Over Welfare Bill
These figures come amid growing concerns about the sustainability of the welfare system. Pat McFadden, Labour Party cabinet member and DWP work and pensions secretary, has previously suggested that benefits for conditions such as ADHD and anxiety may be subject to cuts. His comments reflect worries that the system—and the ballooning welfare bill—is struggling to cope with the rising number of claims.
The findings underscore the challenges faced by claimants with neurodevelopmental and mental health conditions, who often encounter higher scrutiny and lower success rates in PIP assessments. As the DWP reviews its policies, the impact on vulnerable claimants remains a pressing concern.
