More 7-year-olds in Britain now receive disability benefits than 50-year-olds, according to the latest official figures.
It’s a striking comparison, and it’s sparked a fresh row over the cost of the welfare system just weeks before the Chancellor delivers his Budget on 28 October. The numbers reflect a big rise in support claimed for children with conditions such as ADHD, autism and learning difficulties. Some politicians say the system has got out of hand, while others point to better awareness and a real need for help. Here’s a look at what the figures show and why they’ve caused such a stir.
There’s a surprising gap between two age groups.
Government data shows that 69,799 seven-year-olds are now receiving disability benefits. That’s more than the 66,670 people aged 50 who get similar support. Most people would probably expect the opposite, as health problems tend to become more common as we get older, which is why the comparison has grabbed so much attention.
Around one in ten seven-year-olds now get help through these payments. The number has nearly doubled since 2019, when 37,690 children of that age were receiving it. In some parts of England, more than one in five children of all ages are now covered, showing just how much the picture differs from place to place.
What child disability payments are meant for
The benefit at the centre of all this is called Disability Living Allowance, often shortened to DLA. Parents can claim it on behalf of a child who has a disability or long-term illness. It isn’t based on income, and it’s designed to help cover the extra costs families face, such as additional care, travel to appointments, special equipment or help with everyday tasks.
Once young people reach 16, they usually need to move over to a different payment for adults called Personal Independence Payment, or PIP. Some go on to claim Universal Credit too, often on health grounds. That’s part of why politicians are paying close attention to the number of children on DLA, as it can shape how many people rely on support later in life.
Claims have soared since the pandemic.
Across England and Wales, around 915,000 children now receive DLA, and that figure is expected to pass one million this year. To put that in context, the total stood at about 314,000 in 2010, so it’s set to have more than tripled in roughly 15 years. The number has more than doubled since the pandemic alone.
The cost is rising sharply as well. Government forecasts suggest spending on child DLA will top £8bn within the next five years. Alongside that, a recent review found that half of children who receive DLA and the highest level of special educational needs support are not in work or education by the age of 22. Across the wider population, that figure is closer to one in seven.
ADHD, autism, and learning needs make up most claims.
The types of conditions behind claims have shifted a lot over the years. These days, almost nine in ten DLA claims for under-16s are linked to one of three main areas: learning difficulties, ADHD or behavioural problems. Two decades ago, those conditions made up only around half of claims, with physical disabilities and illnesses accounting for much more.
School data tells a similar story. The share of pupils recorded with autism or with social, emotional and mental health needs has climbed steadily, while the number with physical disabilities has stayed fairly flat. Interestingly, claims linked to ADHD, autism, and behaviour have risen particularly quickly in better-off areas, rather than only in the poorest parts of the country.
Why the cost has politicians worried
The figures land at a tricky time for the government. Benefits already cost around £333bn a year, and that bill is expected to reach £407bn by the end of the decade. Economists have warned the Chancellor that he faces a gap of about £35bn in the public finances, putting him under pressure to find savings or raise taxes in his upcoming Budget.
Both the Conservatives and Reform UK have suggested limiting new claims for some mental health conditions in children. They argue that the rapid rise risks setting young people up to depend on benefits for life and isn’t affordable for taxpayers. Labour has so far focused its welfare plans mostly on working-age adults, particularly young people aged 16 to 24 who aren’t in work, education, or training.
Different views on what’s driving the rise
Critics believe the system has become too easy to access and that children are being given labels too readily. They question whether some diagnoses are being made too quickly and whether payments are always going to families who need them most. Some have said the surge risks damaging trust in the welfare system as a whole.
Many families and disability charities see things very differently. They argue that awareness of conditions like ADHD and autism has improved hugely, so children who once slipped through the net are now being spotted. Parents often describe long waits for assessments and a battle to get support at school, and say the extra money helps with the real costs of caring for a child who needs more help than most. For them, the rise reflects needs that were always there.
There are calls to rethink adult disability payments too.
Adult benefits are also under the spotlight. Spending on working-age disability support in England and Wales is expected to reach £34.5bn by 2030 to 2031, measured in today’s money. That’s more than double the £14.4bn spent before the pandemic. PIP can be worth up to £778 a month and is meant to help with the added costs of living with a disability or long-term illness.
One think tank has suggested that around one in six PIP claimants, roughly 670,000 people, are receiving payments even though their condition doesn’t lead to extra costs. It has called for those awards to be stopped, which it estimates could save £4.4bn, and for more support to come as one-off lump sums for things like home adaptations rather than regular monthly payments. Disability groups are likely to push back strongly on any plans to cut support.
What the government says, and where families can get help
The government says the growing share of children on DLA isn’t a new trend and that the benefit exists to support families caring for a seriously ill or disabled child. It has trained extra staff to handle claims, set out plans to reform special educational needs support, so children get help earlier and says it’s putting a record £16.1bn into NHS mental health services this year.
If you’re a parent wondering whether your child could qualify for DLA, the official GOV.UK website explains who can apply and how to make a claim. Free, independent advice is available from organisations such as Citizens Advice and charities that support families with disabled children, which can help with filling in the forms. With possible changes on the horizon, it’s sensible to keep an eye on announcements in the Budget and any welfare plans that follow.
