Eye-watering cost of ADHD handouts in Scotland revealed – and experts warn it'll only get bigger
'BALLOONING' BENEFITS Eye-watering cost of ADHD handouts in Scotland revealed – and experts warn it'll only get bigger
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
ADHD handouts are set to hit £100million just three years after the payments were introduced.
Social Security Scotland handed out £500,000 in 2022, after taking over the benefits.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
2
The cost of ADHD handouts have skyrocketed to £100million in three years
Credit: Getty
2
Liz Smith said Scotland's benefits bill is "ballooning out of control"
Credit: Alamy
The next year there was a 28-times increase to almost £14million.
This ballooned again in 2024 to £35million, while this year the figure is predicted to top £50million.
And experts warn the bill for sufferers from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder will only get bigger.
Scottish Tory social security spokeswoman Liz Smith said: 'Scotland's benefits bill is ballooning out of control.
'While it is essential that adult disability payments support the most vulnerable, it's also essential there is a strong focus on getting as many people as possible back into work.'
Scottish Lib Dems leader Alex Cole-Hamilton added: 'The system is broken. We should be spending far more to prevent and treat mental health conditions.'
In the past three years, 13,896 adults have applied for ADHD payouts, with 8,204 approved.
Those on a standard rate get almost £4,000 a year, while the average claimant has received £8,000 since the system went live.
Around two to four per cent of adults have the condition and new Government stats show a surge in benefit applications.
Claimants do not need a formal ADHD diagnosis for approval but must have supporting information from medical specialists.
New sinister threat issued in ongoing Scotland gang war
It emerged this week that firms are offering a 'no-win, no fee' service to help with ADHD claims.
John O'Connell, from the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: 'The surge in claims for certain conditions calls into question the whole benefits system itself, which is designed to help people in need.
"Politicians must ensure only those genuinely deserving receive support.'
But Bill Colley, chair of the ADHD Coalition Scotland, said: 'Awards are made not on the basis of a simple diagnosis but on the severity of symptoms and thus impairment, particularly where ADHD leads to complex mental health difficulties.'
Since disability payments launched, SSC paid out £2.9 billion, with £1.2 billion going to new applicants and £1.6 billion to those transferred from the DWP.
The Scottish Fiscal Commission recently warned of a cash crisis, predicting ministers will be spending £2.2billion more on benefits than they receive from the UK Government by 2030/31.
This would see the total welfare bill balloon to £9.4billion, about 15 per cent of the total Scots budget.
A SSS spokesperson said: 'Social security is a human right. We are committed to ensuring eligible people get the support they deserve.
'While a diagnosis is not required to apply, we do need supporting information from a professional such as a doctor or psychologist who knows how the person's condition impacts their daily life.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
STV News
35 minutes ago
- STV News
NHS board told to urgently comply with single-sex spaces rules
NHS Fife has been told by the UK's equality watchdog to 'progress corrective actions without delay' regarding single-sex spaces after the health board admitted it failed to carry out an equality impact assessment previously. The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) wrote to NHS Fife regarding access to single-sex facilities for staff on February 21, after the employment tribunal brought by nurse Sandie Peggie against the health board adjourned. Ms Peggie was suspended after she complained about having to share a changing room with transgender medic Dr Beth Upton at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, Fife, on Christmas Eve 2023. She was placed on special leave after Dr Upton made an allegation of bullying and harassment, and cited concerns about 'patient care'. Ms Peggie has lodged a claim against NHS Fife and Dr Upton, citing the Equality Act 2010, including sexual harassment; harassment related to a protected belief; indirect discrimination; and victimisation, and the case has been adjourned until September. Baroness Kishwer Falkner, chairwoman of the EHRC, said NHS Fife previously admitted no equality impact assessment had been carried out and one is now expected around September 30, having been commissioned retrospectively. The EHRC recently directed NHS Fife to take 'corrective action' to ensure compliance with regulations which require public bodies to assess how policies and practices affect people with protected characteristics. On June 10, it held a meeting to reiterate that the Scottish Government has a duty to ensure public bodies comply, following the UK Supreme Court ruling in April that the terms 'woman' and 'sex' in the 2010 Equality Act 'refer to a biological woman and biological sex'. On July 23, NHS Fife 'assured the EHRC that it has taken steps in several areas, including a full review and audit of changing, toilet and locker room facilities', and it 'committed to ensuring there will be no delay in progressing all the compliance actions directed', according to the regulator. Baroness Falkner said the EHRC had 'urged NHS Fife to progress the corrective actions we directed without delay' to 'protect staff from discrimination and harassment'. Maya Forstater, chief executive of human rights charity Sex Matters, said: 'This directive to NHS Fife is an unprecedented intervention from the EHRC. 'While long overdue, this is a clear instruction to NHS Fife – and all employers – that it cannot get away with continuing to flout the Equality Act. 'There have been relentless efforts to undermine the Supreme Court judgment since it was handed down. 'This leads to women being subjected to bullying, harassment and discrimination if they stand up, as Sandie Peggie did, for their right to undress with dignity and privacy. 'The EHRC has the power to hold employers, service providers and public sector bodies to account.' The employment tribunal held further hearings in July before adjourning until September. Scottish Conservative equalities spokeswoman Tess White said: 'This damning directive from the EHRC confirms that on top of being negligent, incompetent and biased, NHS Fife broke the law in relation to the Sandie Peggie case. 'It's abundantly clear that the positions of the chief executive and senior health board colleagues are completely untenable. 'The shameful admission from the health board confirms that Sandie Peggie was hung out to dry from the very beginning, simply for standing up for her rights as a woman. Fairness and accountability must prevail. 'The First Minister must clear out those at the top of NHS Fife and finally demand that it, and all other public bodies, upholds the clear and unequivocal Supreme Court ruling entitling women to single-sex spaces.' Baroness Falkner said: 'The policies and practices of all Scottish health boards must comply with the Equality Act 2010. 'We will continue to engage with NHS Fife and monitor its progress and the outcome of the measures it has committed to taking, to ensure compliance with the Equality Act and Public Sector Equality Duty.' NHS Fife said it welcomes continued engagement and oversight from the EHRC. It said: 'We are committed to working constructively with the EHRC to provide assurance that we fully understand, and are meeting, our obligations under the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duty. 'This includes considering the implications of the recent Supreme Court ruling and the EHRC's interim guidance. 'A comprehensive review and audit of our facilities has been completed, and an equality impact assessment is under way. This will be concluded and published by September 30, 2025. 'Our priority is to ensure that all NHS Fife policies and practices protect the rights of our staff and comply fully with equality legislation.' The Scottish Government has been contacted for comment. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Scotsman
an hour ago
- Scotsman
NHS Fife admits it broke the law over allowing trans doctor to use female changing room
The equalities watchdog has said the health board must carry out an equality impact assessment 'immediately'. Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... NHS Fife has admitted it broke the law by allowing trans doctor Beth Upton to use the female changing rooms without first carrying out an equality impact assessment. The Equality and Human Rights Commission has now told the health board it must now 'carry one out immediately'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad This is the latest development in the ongoing employment tribunal between nurse Sandie Peggie and Dr Upton and NHS Fife. Ms Peggie is suing her employer for sexual harassment over being forced to share a changing room with Dr Upton at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy. Nurse Sandie Peggie and Dr Beth Upton | Press Association Weeks of evidence sessions ended at the tribunal hearing centre in Dundee last month, and the tribunal is due to reconvene on September 1 for closing statements. The equality watchdog had written to NHS Fife bosses back in February to remind them of their obligations under the Equality Act 2010 on single-sex spaces, including a 'duty to assess and review proposed new or revised policies or practices'. This comes after Ms Peggie's legal team requested a copy of any relevant assessments in August 2024. When asked 'whether an equality impact assessment or risk assessment was undertaken before the decision' to allow Dr Upton to use the female changing room, the health board said there was not one available. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The EHRC initially said public bodies have 'a duty to assess and review proposed new or revised policies or practices' and that any assessment results must be published 'within a reasonable period', but this information was not on the NHS Fife website. The commission then asked the health board to provide 'a copy of any equality impact assessment for any policies or practices relevant to how you've kept those under review post-implementation, and details of any steps you are taking to ensure that the rights of different groups are balanced in the application of these policies or practices'. It wrote to NHS Fife again a month later after receiving no response. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad In July, NHS Fife assured the EHRC that it had 'taken steps in several areas, including a full review and audit of changing, toilet and locker room facilities'. Baroness Kishwer Falkner, chair of the EHRC, has now said the health board did not have an equality impact assessment in place and now expects to publish one at the end of September. She said: 'The policies and practices of all Scottish health boards must comply with the Equality Act 2010. 'Earlier this year we asked NHS Fife to provide us with information on the provision of single-sex changing facilities for staff and the rights of different groups in the application of these policies. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'At that point NHS Fife confirmed that no equality impact assessment was available. 'Undertaking an equality impact assessment of relevant policies or practices, and publishing the results, are requirements of the PSED specific duties in Scotland. 'We believe NHS Fife failed to meet these requirements and told them to carry one out immediately. 'NHS Fife has now confirmed that it has commissioned an equality impact assessment and anticipates it will be published by September 30.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Baroness Falkner added: 'Since we first wrote to NHS Fife, the Supreme Court ruled on the definition of 'sex' in the Equality Act. 'The EHRC has been clear that all duty-bearers should be following the law, as set out in the judgement handed down on April 16. 'NHS Fife has assured us that it is following our advice to review the implications of the judgement for its policies and procedures, seeking specialist legal advice where necessary. 'We continue to urge NHS Fife to progress the corrective actions we directed without delay. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'These steps are essential to protect NHS Fife staff from discrimination and harassment on the basis of protected characteristics, including sex, religion or belief, and gender reassignment. 'We will continue to engage with NHS Fife and monitor its progress and the outcome of the measures it has committed to taking, to ensure compliance with the Equality Act and public sector equality duty.' A spokesperson for NHS Fife said: 'NHS Fife acknowledges the EHRC's media release of August 13, 2025, and welcomes its continued engagement and oversight. 'We are committed to working constructively with the EHRC to provide assurance that we fully understand, and are meeting, our obligations under the Equality Act 2010 and the public sector equality duty. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'This includes considering the implications of the recent Supreme Court ruling and the EHRC's interim guidance. 'A comprehensive review and audit of our facilities has been completed, and an equality impact assessment is underway. This will be concluded and published by September 30, 2025.' They added: 'Our priority is to ensure that all NHS Fife policies and practices protect the rights of our staff and comply fully with equality legislation.' Tess White MSP, the Scottish Conservatives' equalities spokeswoman, said this development shows the top team's positions are 'completely untenable'.tess w Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Tess White MSP She said: 'This damning directive from the EHRC confirms that, on top of being negligent, incompetent and biased, NHS Fife broke the law in relation to the Sandie Peggie case. 'It's just one failure, and one revelation, after another. 'It's abundantly clear that the positions of the chief executive and senior health board colleagues are completely untenable. 'The shameful admission from the health board confirms that Sandie Peggie was hung out to dry from the very beginning of this tawdry scandal simply for standing up for her rights as a woman. 'Fairness and accountability must prevail. Surely John Swinney and his SNP colleagues can no longer retain confidence in those in charge of this dysfunctional health board. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Parents are 'causing ADHD in their children' with key nutrition mistake, claims top professor
A leading professor has waded into the debate about ADHD being 'caused' by poor diet choices—and shared a totally new perspective. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a behavioural condition defined by inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. It affects around five per cent of children in the US. Some 3.6 per cent of boys and 0.85 per cent of girls suffer in the UK, with the majority of diagnoses coming between the ages of 6 and 12. Symptoms typically appear at an early age and become more noticeable as a child grows. These can include constant fidgeting, excessive movement or talking, acting without thinking and having little to no sense of danger. ADHD's exact cause is unclear but is thought to involve genetic mutations that affect a person's brain function and structure—although many experts (and naysayers) have linked the hyperactivity element of the condition to diet. Professor Emeritus David Benton, of Swansea University, explained that while people have previously focused on telling the parents of ADHD children to avoid E numbers and additives, perhaps they should look at the bigger picture. Writing for The Conversation, he asks why the focus hasn't been on what foodstuffs the chemicals are typically present in—which are predominantly ultra-processed foods (UPFs). He explained: 'Having a high intake of additives correlates with a high intake of ultra-processed food—usually a diet high in sugar and fat, while low in fibre, protein, vitamins and minerals. 'So, why assume that additives are the problem, and not the rest of the diet?' UPF is an umbrella term used to cover anything edible made with colourings, sweeteners and preservatives that extend shelf life. Ready meals, ice cream and tomato ketchup are some of the best-loved examples of products that fall under the umbrella UPF term, now synonymous with foods offering little nutritional value. They are different to processed foods, which are tinkered to make them last longer or enhance their taste, such as cured meat, cheese and fresh bread. Numerous studies have uncovered links between fizzy drinks, biscuits and ready meals and a catalogue of health problems, including heart disease and even some cancers. Professor Benton continued that low-income parents often rely on UPFs in order to feed their families due to cost restrictions, and it might be no coincidence that ADHD is often diagnosed in children from this demographic. He said: 'Eating ultra-processed food—and therefore additives – is more common among low-income families, who are also at greater risk of ADHD. 'To some extent ADHD may be an indication of poverty, and a generally poor diet, reflecting the financial need to eat cheaper ultra-processed foods.' However, if you think swapping your child to a diet of whole grains, fresh produce and dietary basics like milk and eggs will help reduce their hyperactivity, Professor Benton disagrees. He explained that previous studies revealed that even 'clean' diets had the potential to cause changes in behaviour. Citing a study from 1985 in which children were fed a very limited menu before certain foods were gradually reintroduced to see what triggered a reaction, it wasn't just sweets and fizzy drinks that left them bouncing off the walls. Professor Benson writes: 'It found that at least one of the children reacted adversely to 48 of the foods in their diet with signs of hyperactivity. 'With cows' milk this was true for 64 per cent of children in the study. 'For grapes it was 49 per cent, hens' eggs 29 per cent, fish 23 per cent, apples 13 per cent and tea 10 per cent. 'These are not ultra-processed foods, but we need to explore whether they contain chemicals that influence the biology of some individuals.' He added that nearly 80 per cent of them 'reacted to a preservative and a colouring, although the doses used were greater than would be normally consumed'. And, crucially, 'no child reacted only to these additives, and different children reacted to different foods, only removing additives wouldn't eliminate symptoms'. Professor Benton concluded that frustratingly, when it comes to reducing hyperactivity in children with ADHD it's not a one size fits all solution, and parents need to address their children's overall diet, not just focus on avoiding certain things. 'For parents concerned about their child's ADHD, it's worth remembering that food additives are unlikely to be the sole cause,' he said. 'If a child's behaviour seems linked to diet, keeping a food diary can help identify patterns. 'But any elimination diet should be approached with care and expert advice, to avoid doing more harm than good. 'Ultimately, every child is different, and what works for one may not work for another.' The UK is the worst in Europe for eating UPFs, which make up an estimated 57 per cent of the national diet. They are thought to be a key driver of obesity, which costs the NHS around £6.5billion a year treating weight-related disease like diabetes, heart disease and some cancers. Last year, disturbing data also suggested that children who ate lots of UPFs show early signs of poor heart health and diabetes risk factors from as young as three years old. WHAT IS ADHD? Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a behavioural condition defined by inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. It affects around five per cent of children in the US. Some 3.6 per cent of boys and 0.85 per cent of girls suffer in the UK. Symptoms typically appear at an early age and become more noticeable as a child grows. These can also include: Constant fidgeting Poor concentration Excessive movement or talking Acting without thinking Inability to deal with stress Little or no sense of danger Careless mistakes Mood swings Forgetfulness Difficulty organising tasks Continually starting new tasks before finishing old ones Inability to listen or carry out instructions Most cases are diagnosed between six and 12 years old. Adults can also suffer, but there is less research into this. ADHD's exact cause is unclear but is thought to involve genetic mutations that affect a person's brain function and structure. Premature babies and those with epilepsy or brain damage are more at risk. ADHD is also linked to anxiety, depression, insomnia, Tourette's and epilepsy. There is no cure. A combination of medication and therapy is usually recommended to relieve symptoms and make day-to-day life easier.
