There are growing signs of a DWP push to claim that conditions like ADHD, autism, anxiety and depression are less likely to lead to significant additional costs and, therefore, should be treated differently by the benefits system. In order to challenge this argument, we’d like to hear about the extra costs you face if you live with one of these conditions, or care for someone who does.
Cost-free conditions
Jean-André Prager is a member of the Timms review steering group. He is also the co-author of a new report for a right-wing think tank calling for up to 70% fewer child DLA awards for mental health, learning difficulties and neurodevelopmental conditions. This would apply both to new and existing claimants when their award is reviewed.
Prager argues that needs such as tube feeding, oxygen or substantial mobility assistance have readily identifiable costs. But he claims that “where the principal additional need takes the form of prompting, behavioural management, supervision or motivation, the burden may fall primarily in the form of parental time, vigilance and complexity rather than direct expenditure.”
In other words, mental health, learning difficulties and neurodevelopmental conditions take parental time but are relatively cost free conditions.
Secretary of state, Pat McFadden told MPs in June of this year that he had raised the issue of neurodevelopmental conditions with the Timms review steering group, who are tasked with redesigning PIP:
“In particular, there has been an increase in conditions like anxiety and depression, neurodiverse conditions and so on. Is this benefit fit for purpose in the way that it is designed, in dealing with that variety of conditions? That is a very interesting question for the reviewers. When I went to speak to them a few months ago in one of their sessions, that is the question I put to them to consider.”
McFadden doesn’t directly call for cash awards to be replaced, but the implication is clearly there.
And in July this year, Timms was asked by Tory MP Joe Robertson whether he accepted that “a system of cash payments to some people with conditions such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, where half the claimants are aged between 16 to 24, is not what they need most?”
Timms responded that “The steering group is clear that the provision of cash to meet the additional costs of disability is vital. We will not be moving away from the importance of that, but I think there is a question about whether the process can also point people towards help that may be valuable to them in addition to, or in some cases perhaps instead of, a cash payment.”
The possibility that some people could get help instead of a cash payment for conditions like ADHD is, therefore, one that the Timms review is considering.
DLA for children
Benefits and Work believes that autism, ADHD and mental health conditions result in substantial additional costs when caring for children. These may include:
Transport: children may need accompanying on journeys when other children of the same age travel independently.
Clothing: frequent replacement because it gets lost or damaged, clothing that meets sensory needs.
Learning and activities: additional learning support and specialist play schemes.
Sensory aids and adaptations: noise-cancelling headphones, ear protection, suitable lighting or blackout blinds; specialist software.
Food: cost of wasted food, compulsive eating or the need to eat particular foods.
Household items: cost of replacement because of breakages or rough handling.
Home education: the cost of materials, tutors if available and travel associated with home education because your child was bullied or insufficiently supported at school.
Healthcare: because the assessments or treatment your child needs are not available on the NHS or the wait is impossibly long, you have to pay for them.
Lost income: time off work to provide additional care, including when a child is excluded from school. DLA is not an income replacement benefit, but this is a major cost for many parents.
PIP for adults
In relation to adults and PIP, some of the costs of these conditions may include:
Transport: taxis because of difficulty navigating journeys on foot or using public transport.
Shopping: the cost of deliveries because you are unable to visit supermarkets or shops.
Food: ready-prepared meals because difficulty initiating and completing tasks or executive-function issues prevent cooking.
Sensory aids and equipment: as above.
Private assessments and therapies: especially private sector mental health support, because it may not be available on the NHS.
Utilities: more heating and electricity because your condition means you seldom leave home.
Managing money: problems with managing money lead to late-payment charges and additional borrowing costs.
Help at home: because of fatigue or difficulty initiating and completing tasks you may have to pay for help around the home - including cleaning and gardening - in order to keep it safe and habitable.
Tell us your experience
We’d like to put together some evidence to challenge the cost-free conditions argument. So - as a first step - we’d like to hear from readers who live with ADHD, autism, depression or anxiety or who care for someone else, including a child, who does.
What are the extra costs involved? Can you estimate how much extra you spend on different activities? Please include things you need but cannot afford, because having no money to spend does not mean having no additional costs.
If you can, give rough weekly, monthly or one-off amounts.
You can leave a comment below or contact us to tell us more. We may publish extracts from your email responses anonymously, so please leave out identifying details and only include information you are comfortable having published.
