LONDON, Oct 19 (Bernama-PA Media/dpa) -- Teenagers and young adults make up nearly one in three people who have recently started claiming disability benefits for anxiety disorders, research has shown, reported PA Media/dpa.
There were 24,681 claimants of personal independence payment (PIP) in England and Wales at the end of July this year with a primary condition of anxiety disorder who had received the benefit for up to two years.
Some 7,403 of these people - 30 per cent - were aged 16 to 24, according to analysis by the Press Association.
A further 5,445, or 22 per cent, were aged 25 to 34, suggesting more than half of recent PIP claimants for anxiety disorders have yet to reach their mid-30s.
There are several types of anxiety disorders included in this category, including panic disorder - where someone regularly has sudden attacks of panic or fear - and social phobias, which are defined by the National Health Service (NHS) as a disorder resulting in a long-term and overwhelming fear of social situations.
Older age groups account for much smaller proportions of recent claimants for anxiety.
While 3,391 (14 per cent) of people who have been claiming for up to two years are aged 45 to 54, 2,649 (11 per cent) are aged between 55 to 64 and just 438 (2 per cent) are 65 or over.
Some 5,350 claimants (22 per cent) are aged 35 to 44.
PIP is the main benefit paid to someone who has a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability, and is intended to help with associated extra living costs.
People can get PIP even if they are working, have savings or are getting other benefits and can start claiming from the age of 16.
The Press Association based its analysis on the latest data on PIP claimants published by the Department for Work & Pensions.
A total of 72,195 claimants are listed as having an anxiety disorder as their primary condition as of July 31 this year, including the 24,681 who have been receiving the benefit for up to two years.
Of all the claimants with anxiety disorders, 21 per cent are aged 16-24, compared with 30 per cent of those who have only been claiming for up to two years.
--BERNAMA-PA MEDIA/dpa