MAIL ON SUNDAY COMMENT: Old Labour wouldn’t waste welfare on ADHD – a crackdown is crucial
The article argues that welfare should protect people who cannot work because of illness, while preventing benefits from being claimed on the basis of diagnoses it considers questionable. It says some ADHD assessments may be too subjective and calls for stricter checks before benefits are awarded.
It reports that 43 per cent of Personal Independence Payment claims now relate to conditions including anxiety, ADHD or routine back pain. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch proposes tougher assessments and ending payments for mild health conditions, alongside £1 billion for therapies and occupational health to help people return to work.
- The article calls for stricter checks on disability benefit claims.
- It says 43 per cent of PIP claims involve certain common conditions.
- Badenoch proposes £1 billion for support to help people return to work.
New here? Start with this
Personal Independence Payment is a welfare benefit for people with long-term health conditions or disabilities that affect their ability to work. The current debate centres on whether certain diagnoses, particularly ADHD, anxiety and back pain, should qualify for these payments, given concerns that assessments for such conditions may sometimes be subjective.
About 43 per cent of all PIP claims now involve conditions such as anxiety, ADHD or back pain, a substantial proportion of the overall total. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has proposed tougher assessment procedures and restricting payments for mild health conditions, whilst investing £1 billion in therapies and occupational support to help people return to work.
This reflects a wider discussion about how welfare money should be allocated and used. The proposals suggest a potential shift towards supporting those with the most severe conditions while investing in helping people manage their health without relying on long-term payments.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Tougher checks could help ensure limited welfare funds reach people whose conditions substantially affect daily life, while reducing the risk of inconsistent assessments or payments based on diagnoses that do not establish functional need. If paired with accessible therapies and workplace support, the proposed approach could also help some people return to work and sustain public confidence in the benefits system.
The case against
ADHD and other conditions can seriously limit a person’s ability to work or manage daily activities, even when their effects are not readily visible or captured by a standard assessment. Stricter tests or excluding “mild” conditions could wrongly deny support to people with genuine needs, and the promised therapies and occupational help may not be available or sufficient to replace the security that benefits provide.