Senior Conservative politicians have accused social media figures, dubbed 'sickfluencers,' of coaching individuals on how to maximize payouts for mental health benefit claims, contributing to a significant rise in disability handouts. Shadow work and pensions secretary Helen Whately stated that these influencers exploit individuals with conditions like depression, anxiety, and ADHD, encouraging them to exaggerate symptoms to secure Personal Independence Payments (PIP).
Since 2021, claims for mixed anxiety and depressive disorder (MADD) have increased by 108 percent, now four times more common than claims for ADHD. Analysis by the TaxPayers' Alliance indicates that MADD-related claims rose by nearly a quarter in the past two years, with autism-related claims increasing by over a third. Whately suggested that many individuals with milder health conditions could be better supported in the workplace.
Concerns have also been raised by researchers from Policy Exchange, who found that many claimants are using AI tools like ChatGPT to strengthen their applications, sometimes without medical evidence. The think-tank warned that this trend is distorting the health and disability benefits system, with 'sickfluencers' creating 'walkthrough guides' and promoting the potential to claim substantial sums for conditions like ADHD. Some posts have garnered tens of thousands of views, potentially luring individuals who might not have otherwise considered making claims.
Separate research by the Nuffield Trust highlighted a surge in PIP claims for ADHD and autism among teenagers in affluent areas of England. The study found that PIP claims for 16 and 17-year-olds with these conditions rose 28 percent faster in less deprived areas compared to the poorest. Experts suggest that wealthier families may have better access to diagnoses and assistance in navigating the benefits system. A review commissioned by Health Secretary Wes Streeting also noted concerns about private providers misdiagnosing ADHD in children and potential incentives within educational and welfare systems encouraging diagnosis.
This surge in benefit claims coincides with rising mental health issues. A record one in seven people in England were prescribed antidepressants last year, with over nine million patients receiving the drugs. The proportion of adults experiencing significant symptoms of depression remains nearly double pre-Covid levels, affecting 18 percent of adults as of April 2025, and a higher rate of 26 percent among those aged 16 to 29. Consequently, 2.8 million working-age Britons are currently out of work due to long-term sickness, an increase from just over two million before the pandemic.
In response, the government has unveiled plans to cut the welfare bill by £36 billion, with an estimated £13.7 billion reduction expected from tighter rules for disability and sickness benefit claimants. Proposals include barring individuals with lower-level mental health conditions from claiming PIP and subjecting existing claimants to stricter assessments.