Mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, autism and ADHD are now among the fastest-growing reasons people are successfully claiming disability benefits from the Department for Work and Pensions, according to the latest official figures.
As the number of disability-related benefit claims continues climbing across Britain, new DWP statistics show awards linked to common mental health conditions have surged over the past five years — particularly for Personal Independence Payment (PIP), the country’s main disability support benefit for working-age adults.
The figures highlight a major shift in the welfare system. Physical disabilities still account for a large share of claims, but mental health conditions are now driving much of the growth in new applications.
For some people, that rise reflects greater awareness and diagnosis. For critics, it reflects a wider mental health crisis unfolding alongside rising living costs, NHS waiting lists, and long-term pressures left behind by the pandemic years.
Millions Receive Disability-Related Benefits
The DWP currently pays benefits to more than 20 million people across the UK, with millions receiving support linked to disability, mobility issues, or long-term health conditions.
The largest disability-related benefit is Personal Independence Payment, commonly known as PIP. It now has close to 4 million claimants nationwide.
Universal Credit, which supports more than 8 million people, also includes additional health-related elements for those unable to work due to illness or disability.
Other major disability benefits include:
| Disability Benefit | Who It Supports |
|---|---|
| Personal Independence Payment (PIP) | Working-age people with long-term conditions |
| Attendance Allowance | People over State Pension age needing care support |
| Disability Living Allowance (DLA) | Mainly children and some existing adult claimants |
| Universal Credit health element | People with limited capability for work |
Official guidance on disability benefits is available through gov.uk.
Anxiety and Depression Claims Have Soared
One of the sharpest increases has come from claimants with anxiety and depression.
According to DWP statistics, the monthly average number of new PIP awards where anxiety or depression was listed as the primary condition jumped from around 2,500 per month in 2019 to approximately 8,800 per month in 2024.
That’s more than a threefold increase in just five years.
| Mental Health PIP Awards | Monthly Average |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 2,500 |
| 2024 | 8,800 |
The rise mirrors broader NHS mental health trends, with waiting lists for talking therapies and specialist mental health support remaining under heavy strain.
Mental health charities have repeatedly warned that financial insecurity, housing stress, and social isolation continue affecting large numbers of people long after the peak pandemic years.
Which Mental Health Conditions Qualify for PIP?
PIP is not awarded based solely on a diagnosis. Instead, the DWP assesses how a condition affects a person’s daily living and mobility.
Mental health conditions commonly associated with successful PIP claims include:
| Mental Health Conditions Often Linked to PIP Claims |
|---|
| Anxiety |
| Depression |
| PTSD |
| ADHD |
| Autism spectrum disorder |
| OCD |
The benefit is designed to support people who struggle with tasks such as preparing food, communicating, managing medication, travelling independently, or coping socially.
Details of eligibility criteria are published on the official PIP assessment guidance.
Importantly, claimants do not need to have a physical disability to qualify.
That point still surprises many people, especially because PIP is often incorrectly associated only with visible physical conditions.
What Are the Success Rates?
Recent DWP figures show substantial approval rates for several common mental health conditions.
| Condition | Approximate PIP Success Rate |
|---|---|
| PTSD | 58% |
| OCD | 55% |
| Anxiety and depression | 50% |
Those figures reflect successful outcomes where claimants met the DWP’s assessment criteria after applying.
However, charities say the process can still be emotionally exhausting — particularly for people dealing with trauma, anxiety disorders, or neurodevelopmental conditions.
Claimants Describe Stress of the Process
The DWP has published claimant experiences on its own website highlighting the emotional difficulty many people face during applications.
One woman aged between 50 and 65, who received a full PIP award for anxiety and depression, explained how difficult it can be to apply even after years of therapy.
“I’ve done that much therapy that I know it all in my head,” she said. “But putting it in place sometimes is much harder than knowing what to do.”
Another claimant living with ADHD, OCD and PTSD described struggling to fully explain their difficulties during the process.
“I almost even wanted to hide things,” they said. “Not actually being honest and putting down on these forms what is going on in my life because of embarrassment.”
That fear of not being believed remains a recurring theme among many claimants, particularly those whose conditions are not physically visible.
Mental Health Charities Urge People to Seek Support
Turn2Us, a UK anti-poverty charity, says many people may be entitled to financial help without realising it.
The organisation advises that people whose mental health affects their ability to work, travel, or manage daily tasks should explore whether they qualify for support.
According to Turn2Us:
“If your mental health makes you too unwell to work; you are on a low income; or have care or mobility needs, you may be able to make a claim for one of these benefits.”
The charity also encourages people claiming Universal Credit to inform their work coach about any mental health difficulties, noting that reasonable adjustments should be made where needed.
Further guidance is available through Turn2Us and the mental health charity Mind.
Growing Caseloads Are Becoming Politically Sensitive
The rapid rise in mental health-related disability claims has become one of the most politically sensitive issues facing the welfare system.
The number of working-age adults receiving health-related benefits has risen sharply since the pandemic, fuelling debate inside Westminster over whether Britain is experiencing worsening ill health, economic inactivity, or structural weaknesses in healthcare and employment support.
Labour ministers have promised to reform parts of the benefits system while also pledging stronger employment support for disabled people who can work.
At the same time, disability campaigners warn against framing rising mental health claims as suspicious or excessive, arguing the increase reflects genuine unmet healthcare needs across the country.
The reality is likely more complicated than either political side often admits.
For many claimants, benefits like PIP are not replacing work entirely — they are helping cover the extra costs that come with living alongside long-term mental health conditions in a country where treatment access, workplace flexibility, and social support often remain patchy.
FAQs
1. Can you claim PIP for anxiety or depression?
Yes. Anxiety and depression can qualify for PIP if they significantly affect daily living or mobility.
2. Does having ADHD or autism automatically qualify someone for PIP?
No. PIP is based on how a condition affects someone’s ability to function, not the diagnosis alone.
3. What is the success rate for PTSD PIP claims?
Recent figures suggest around 58% of PTSD-related PIP claims are successful.
4. Can people with mental health conditions claim Universal Credit?
Yes. Universal Credit includes health-related support for people whose conditions affect their ability to work.
5. Is PIP only for physical disabilities?
No. Mental health conditions, neurodevelopmental conditions, and cognitive impairments can also qualify.
