ADHD benefits claimants now outnumber British Army soldiers

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Taxpayers are forced to spend billions of pounds more on benefits than on the defence of the nation

There are now more people claiming benefits for ADHD than full-time soldiers in the British Army, it has been revealed.

The number of people receiving personal independence payments (PIP) for the condition surpassed 100,000 for the first time in April, Department for Work and Pensions data shows.

At the same time, the British Army had a headcount of only 82,000.

The number of people claiming benefits for anxiety disorder also outnumbered the combined 66,269 troops in the Navy and the RAF by around 3,000.

The ballooning benefits bill has been criticised by the likes of Reform UK and the Conservatives, with much of the increase fuelled by a steep rise in claims for ADHD, anxiety, autism and stress.

Pip provides claimants with up to £9,947 a year in cash, which can be spent on mobility scooters and cars.

On Wednesday, Andy Burnham told MPs how national security could not come "at the expense of social security".

And while the number of claimants has ballooned, the Armed Forces has been in decline - despite the looming threat of war.

Mr Burnham has yet to commit to spending three per cent of GDP on defence by 2030, a target Chancellor John Healey resigned over, instead committing to the Nato target of 3.5 per cent by 2035.

Labour will not include detail of how it plans to reach that target in the autumn Budget and will wait until next year's spending review.

Health and disability benefits have shot up to £76.9billon, while defence spending has stood at £60.2billion, as first revealed by the Telegraph.

And spending on military equipment is also dwarfed by the welfare bill at £7.4billion for the Army, Royal Navy, and RAF as compared to £25.8billion for Pip claims.

A total of £15.8billion was spent on military personnel across the three branches, while health and disability benefits paid out to over-65s added up to £14.2billion, excluding the state pension.

Mr Burnham's predecessor Sir Keir Starmer previously planned to cut the ballooning benefits bill by £5billion a year, but the move was halted after a backbench revolt.

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An extra 400,000 people have since claimed Pip in the year to April, fuelling calls for the Prime Minister to take action.

The Tories have revealed their own plans to slash the benefits bill by over £23billion in sweeping reforms which include eliminating Pip claims for mental health conditions.

And Reform UK has announced their plans to replace Pip entirely with a "Health Security Allowance" which would be regularly reviewed and only for those who are "gravely ill and severely challenged" in measures which would cut the bill by £50billion.

Sir Stephen Timms, the Social Security Minister, set out a number of "emerging recommendations" to the Pip system on Thursday, which largely included guidance on making taxpayer cash easier to claim.

The emerging recommendations included using a "more respectful" tone towards would-be claimants, ensuring individual needs were consistently met, and guaranteeing claimants could access "advocacy services".

Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Helen Whately slammed Labour for not going far enough.

She said: "This review is a wasted opportunity. There’s no plan to move from cash handouts to support, no action on Motability abuse and no end to benefits for mild anxiety or ADHD.

"Nothing on why PIP claims for mental health conditions - especially among young people - have surged.

"Labour's answer is to make PIP easier to claim, offer more online assessments, hire more people to wave claims through, and water down checks further."

A DWP spokesman said: "These are not the final recommendations. The Review, which will report to the Secretary of State this autumn, and he will carefully consider the final proposals within it.

"The Timms Review interim report, co-produced with disabled people, made clear that PIP is no longer fit for purpose.

"Our goal is to deliver a system that supports disabled people and those with long-term conditions to live independent lives, while remaining fair, sustainable, and fit for the future."