Research Highlights Health Access and Benefit Claim Disparities in England

New research published in September 2026 indicates that health access disparities exist across England, linking socioeconomic status to the rate of disability benefit claims. The study found that while the Personal Independence Payment (Pip) was proportionally higher in deprived areas, the fastest growth in claims for ADHD and autism was seen in affluent areas of England. Researchers noted that these trends were also linked to claims being higher among white people than other ethnic groups.

The findings suggest that the ability of wealthier families to seek timely diagnoses, including private clinical assessments, may contribute to the trends observed in prosperous areas. The research also found that the gap in Pip claims between wealthy and poorer regions was narrowing.