New report exposes barriers in Adult Disability Payment for people with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
- Area of Work: Policy and Research
- Type: News Item
- Published: 29th August 2025
The research explores the experiences of people with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) navigating the welfare benefits system.
The report has revealed that people living with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), a severe hormone-based mood disorder, face significant barriers when applying for Adult Disability Payment (ADP). Engaging with those with PMDD and professional stakeholders, participants described the process as distressing and inconsistent, with the fluctuating nature of PMDD symptoms often poorly understood or overlooked.
The study identified four key challenges:
- The difficulty of evidencing fluctuating conditions under the 50% rule.
- A lack of trauma informed practice throughout the application process.
- Inconsistent assessment and decision outcomes.
- Limited awareness of available support.
Together, these issues left many applicants excluded from the financial assistance they need to live independently.
The authors recommend reforms to ensure ADP better reflects the realities of PMDD and broader fluctuating conditions. This includes applying the social model of disability to assessments, reforming eligibility criteria and improving training for decision-makers so that variability and mental health impact are fairly recognised in the process.
Read the full report here
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