UK sees sharp rise in disability benefits for anxiety-depression, maps show regional spikes
Claims for personal independence payment linked to mixed anxiety and depressive disorder have more than doubled in five years, with the highest rates in Wales and parts of the north.
New data reveal that personal independence payment claims tied to mixed anxiety and depressive disorder have surged by 108% since 2021, eclipsing ADHD-related claims by a factor of four. Regional maps highlight Wales as the hotspot with 13.1 claims per 1,000 people, almost double the UK average, and elevated figures in Yorkshire and the Humber, the North East and North West. The East and West Midlands recorded the fastest year-on-year increases.
Overall, psychiatric conditions now represent about 39% of all PIP claims in England and Wales. Policy analyst Shimeon Lee of the TaxPayers' Alliance argues the system is ill-suited to handle the growing demand and calls for stricter eligibility and means-testing. The trend coincides with broader mental-health pressures, including a record rise in antidepressant prescriptions and higher rates of depression among adults and young people.
Why it matters
The boom in mental-health disability claims strains public finances and raises questions about how benefits are allocated.
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