Young people aged 16 to 24 make up the largest proportion of recent claimants receiving disability benefit for anxiety disorders, with nearly one in three falling into this age group.
Analysis of Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) figures by the Press Association found that 7,403 of the 24,681 people in England and Wales who had been receiving Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for anxiety disorders for up to two years were aged 16 to 24.
That represents 30% of recent claimants, while a further 5,445 people, or 22%, were aged 25 to 34.
The figures suggest more than half of recent PIP claimants whose primary recorded condition is an anxiety disorder are under 35.
However, a leading psychiatrist has warned that the statistics may not tell the full story about people’s health conditions and the reasons they need support.
Young people account for biggest share of recent PIP claims
PIP is the main disability benefit for people in England and Wales who have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability that affects their daily lives.
It is intended to help with additional living costs associated with a person’s condition. People can claim PIP from the age of 16, even if they are working, have savings or receive other benefits.
Of those who had been claiming PIP for anxiety disorders for up to two years, 5,350 were aged 35 to 44, representing 22%.
A further 3,391 claimants, or 14%, were aged 45 to 54, while 2,649 (11%) were aged 55 to 64. Just 438 people, or 2%, were aged 65 or over.
There were 72,195 PIP claimants in total whose primary recorded condition was an anxiety disorder as of July 31, 2026. Across this wider group, 21% were aged 16 to 24.
Anxiety disorders covered by the figures include panic disorder and social phobia, which can involve an overwhelming fear of social situations.
Psychiatrist warns PIP figures may not tell whole story
Dr Jed Boardman, consultant psychiatrist and lead for social inclusion at the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said the official statistics may not capture the complexity of people’s conditions.
He told the Press Association: “The diagnostic statistics that the Government has produced may help us understand the general picture, but they don’t reveal the necessary level of detail.
“They can be misleading because they only tell a portion of the story about those people.”
Dr Boardman said many claimants are likely to have multiple disabling conditions, including a combination of mental and physical health symptoms and conditions such as autism.
He added that there were “very likely” to be issues with how the statistics were recorded.
Discussing the possible background to anxiety and depression, he said people who develop these conditions are more likely to have experienced adverse childhood experiences, including abuse and neglect.
“People who develop depression or anxiety are much more likely to have experienced those sort of experiences in childhood,” he said.
Thousands of PIP claimants have social phobia or panic disorder
Of the 72,195 claimants whose primary recorded condition was an anxiety disorder, 3,554 were listed as having social phobia.
Some 1,238 of those claimants, or 35%, were aged 16 to 24.
The NHS describes social phobia as “more than shyness”, explaining that it can involve a fear that does not go away and affects everyday activities, confidence, relationships, work or school life.
There were also 3,851 PIP claimants recorded as having panic disorder, including 487 people aged 16 to 24.
PIP review puts disability benefit under scrutiny
The figures come as the Government prepares to publish the final findings of its review into the cost and operation of PIP later this autumn.
An interim report published in July described the system as “no longer fit for purpose”.
The latest figures show that 4.09 million people in England and Wales were entitled to PIP on July 31, 2026, up from 3.83 million a year earlier.
That represents an increase of 262,045 people, or 7%.
A Government spokesperson said: “The increase in the PIP caseload has slowed under this government, falling from 400,000 in the 12 months to July 2024, to 260,000 in the 12 months to July 2026.
“But as the Timms Review report made clear, PIP is no longer fit for purpose and the recommendations from its final report will lay the foundation for sustainable reform.
“We have also invested in mental health support in schools, colleges and communities, as part of a renewed focus on prevention and early intervention, to make sure that people receive the right help, at the right time – including responding to the findings from Professor Fonagy’s independent review.”
