The Resolution Foundation has cautioned that proposals to prevent people with anxiety, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or autism from receiving Personal Independence Payment (PIP) are unlikely to generate substantial savings and may have damaging social consequences.
In an analysis published by the thinktank, officials said barring these diagnoses from eligibility for PIP — a disability benefit intended to help with extra costs caused by long-term ill health or disability — would amount to "crude changes" aimed at hitting what it characterised as unrealistic savings targets.
The foundation argued that eliminating access to the benefit for people with these conditions would probably make it harder for affected individuals to get or stay in work and to participate in society. It said the change could therefore have knock-on effects that offset any limited reduction in benefit expenditure.
The thinktank's findings add to a debate over how governments manage disability benefits and the trade-offs between cost containment and support for people with mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions. The Resolution Foundation's assessment suggests that narrow exclusions based on diagnosis risk overlooking the varied ways conditions can affect daily functioning and employment prospects.
Policymakers weighing adjustments to PIP eligibility will face pressure to balance fiscal objectives with maintaining access to support that helps people manage work and social participation. The Resolution Foundation's warning recommends caution in pursuing blanket exclusions that may not achieve the intended financial gains and could produce wider social costs.