The Government’s Attack on PIP: A Devastating Blow to Neurodivergents

This government has once again made it clear with their intention to make PIP cuts: they are more interested in cutting costs than supporting the most vulnerable in society. Their recent announcement on changes to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and welfare benefits is nothing short of an attack on disabled people—especially those of us who are neurodivergent.

For people with ADHD, autism, and other neurodivergent conditions, these benefits are not luxuries; they are lifelines. Many of us struggle daily with executive dysfunction, sensory overwhelm, and mental health challenges. PIP and other benefits help us afford the extra support we need to function—whether that’s therapy, medication, assistive technology, or simply the ability to work fewer hours to avoid burnout. Without this support, the consequences could be catastrophic.

Key Changes to PIP and Welfare Benefits

The proposed reforms and PIP cuts may include several significant adjustments:​

Stricter PIP Eligibility Criteria: From November 2026, claimants must score a minimum of four points in at least one daily living activity to qualify for the daily living component of PIP. This change is expected to disqualify many individuals with less severe impairments, potentially affecting up to 1.2 million people who could lose between £4,200 and £6,300 annually by 2029-2030. ​

Removal of Incapacity Benefit Top-Up for Young People: The reforms propose eliminating the incapacity benefit top-up for individuals under 22, replacing it with a "youth guarantee" offering jobs or training. Critics argue this could lead to significant income reductions for young disabled individuals.

Reassessments for Incapacity Benefits: Mandatory reassessments for incapacity benefits will be reintroduced, aiming to ensure that recipients who can work are supported to do so. This move has raised concerns about increased stress and instability for those with fluctuating conditions. ​

Stripping Away Support Without Providing Alternatives

The government claims they want to make PIP cuts becasue the “unsustainable” cost of PIP and shift towards “in-kind” support instead of financial assistance. But here’s the problem: there is no adequate in-kind support to shift towards. The NHS is already stretched beyond breaking point, with waiting lists for ADHD and autism assessments running into the years, not months. Mental health services are woefully underfunded, and even when people do get diagnosed, they are often left to fend for themselves.

If the government is serious about helping disabled and neurodivergent people into work, they need to start by fixing the system. That means:

• Proper NHS support: Timely diagnosis, access to medication, therapy, and occupational health interventions.
• Reasonable workplace adjustments: Employers should be compelled to make real, meaningful adjustments—not just tick-box exercises.
• Flexibility: Working from home, flexible hours, and task-based work models should be protected rights, not privileges that can be taken away at the whim of a manager.

The Dangerous Reality: Neurodivergent People Are at Risk

Let’s be clear PIP cuts aren't just an inconvenience. It’s life or death.

People with ADHD are five times more likely to attempt suicide than the general population. The government knows this. They know that stripping away financial and structural support will increase stress, anxiety, and depression. They know that people will be left unable to afford the help they need. And yet, they push forward with their plans anyway.

This isn’t about getting more people into work—it’s about forcing disabled people into a system that does not accommodate them, punishing them when they inevitably cannot cope. And when the consequences of that play out in worsening mental health and increased suicides, the government will shrug and blame it on “individual struggles” rather than systemic failure.

What Needs to Happen Now

If the government truly wants to support disabled and neurodivergent people, as well as pip cuts they need to:

1. Improve NHS support for ADHD, autism, and mental health conditions.
2. Protect financial support for those who cannot work or need additional assistance to function.
3. Enforce workplace rights, ensuring employers provide meaningful accommodations like remote work and flexibility.
4. Engage with the neurodivergent community, listening to those directly affected instead of making top-down decisions based on outdated stereotypes.

Join the Fight

At ADHDaptive, I work every day to help neurodivergent professionals and organisations create environments where people can thrive. But the reality is, no amount of coaching or advocacy can undo the damage of government policies like these planned pip cuts designed to make life harder for us.

We need to raise our voices. If you or someone you love is affected by these proposed changes, now is the time to speak up.

Write to your MP. Demand they oppose these changes.

• Share this post. Spread the word about what’s happening.
• Support neurodivergent-led businesses and initiatives—because if the government won’t stand up for us, we must stand up for each other.

The government may be going for our support, but we won’t go down without a fight.

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