Over 1.4 million people get PIP to help with mental ill-health and neurodivergent conditions but there are changes coming to eligibility
05:30, 07 Jun 2025Updated 09:57, 09 Jun 2025
DWP data indicates how the new PIP shake-up will affect people with mental health problems and neurodivergent conditions(Image: shared content unit)
PIP claimants with mental health issues and neurodivergent conditions will be among those who are affected by Labour’s reforms of disability benefits. In some cases, almost half will lose their entitlement to the benefit.
From November 2026, people will need to get at least one score of four in the activities assessed for the daily living element of PIP. These activities include bathing, getting dressed and cooking a meal.
The restrictions on eligibility will affect any new applicants after that date as well as existing claimants whose awards are up for review.
The total number of 3.6 million PIP claimants includes 1.4 million who come under a broad category listed as ‘psychiatric disorders’ – this includes mental ill-health, neurodivergent conditions, personality disorders, and learning disabilities.
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Information from the Department for Work and Pensions has indicated how people in different medical groups are set to be impacted by the changes.
It’s based on the number of people who were awarded less than four points in all daily living activities at the end of January 2025.
Previous proposals put forward by the Conservatives before the General Election appeared to be largely aimed at removing PIP from people with mental health conditions and offering them vouchers and therapy instead.
But the new DWP data suggests many people with mental ill-health or neurodivergent conditions such as autism and ADHD may be less impacted under the Labour plans, though almost half with anxiety, depression, PTSD and agoraphobia could lose their PIP.
PIP changes impact on mental health and neurodivergent claimants
Anxiety and depression – 587,000 claimants, of which 282,000 (48%) scored less than 4 points. For the conditions included under this category, see below.
ADHD/ADD – 75,000 claimants, of which 14,000 (19%) scored less than 4 points
Autistic Spectrum Disorders – 206,000 claimants, of which 13,000 (6%) scored less than 4 points
Learning Disabilities – 188,000 claimants, of which 7,000 (3%) scored less than 4 points
Psychotic Disorders – 112,000 claimants, of which 26,000 (23%) scored less than 4 points
Other Psychiatric Disorders – 90,000 claimants, of which 25,000 (28%) scored less than 4 points
In the Government’s PIP conditions database, the category of ‘anxiety and depression’ includes not just anxiety and depression but a range of other conditions such as PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), agoraphobia, OCD, bipolar disorder and body dysmorphia.
So, while just under half of those with mental illnesses that come under anxiety and depression could lose their PIP daily living element, just over half are expected to retain it.
Only a small percentage of those with neurodivergent conditions such as autism and ADHD will be negatively affected.
The conditions with the largest proportions of PIP claimants who face their benefits being stopped are physical ailments such as back pain, arthritis, chronic pain syndromes (mostly fibromyalgia), cardiovascular disease and respiratory disease.
Top of the list is back pain, where 79 per cent score less than 4 in the daily living activities, followed closely by arthritis (77 per cent).
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