Do you see me? Understanding the financial challenges people with learning difficulties can face

This week (15–21 June) is Learning Disability Week, an annual campaign led by Mencap to raise awareness and improve understanding of what life is like for people with learning disabilities.

This year’s theme ‘do you see me?’, encourages people to look beyond assumptions and recognise people for who they are, rather than focusing solely on their disability. It's about making sure people with learning disabilities are seen, heard and given the same opportunities as everyone else.

While learning disabilities and neurodivergence are not the same thing, many people face similar barriers when it comes to accessing services, employment and financial support.

Learning difficulties, such as dyslexia, can affect reading, writing and numerical skills. Neurodivergence is a broader term that includes conditions such as ADHD, autism and dyslexia, describing people whose brains process information differently from what is considered typical.

These differences can affect many areas of daily life, including how you manage your money.

How neurodiversity can affect your finances

Neurodiversity can play a big role in how you handle money. You may find it harder to keep track of bills, understand complex financial information, manage paperwork or stay on top of day-to-day budgeting.

Without the right support, these challenges can make it more difficult to access services, deal with debt and achieve financial stability.

At Money Wellness, we see first-hand how health conditions, disabilities and neurodivergence can affect people's financial wellbeing.

Understanding our customers

From May 2025 to May 2026, 6328 customers who contacted us by telephone identified as neurodivergent, highlighting the importance of making financial support accessible and inclusive.

The most commonly disclosed neurodivergent conditions were:

• ADHD – 2,122 disclosures
• dyslexia – 2,054 disclosures
• autism – 1,039 disclosures

The data also shows an increase in customers disclosing ADHD, rising from 136 in June 2025 to a peak of 253 in October 2025.

These figures reinforce the need for services that recognise different ways of processing information, communicating and managing day-to-day tasks.

Why ADHD can make money management harder

Research published through the National Library of Medicine shows that adults with ADHD are more likely to experience financial difficulties and rely on others for money support.

Last year, we spoke to Professor James Brown, co-founder of ADHDadultUK, about why this happens.

He explained that the ADHD brain is often driven by stimulation and reward:

"A purchase provides an immediate hit of dopamine. This makes it incredibly difficult to resist 'buy now' buttons or special offers. This isn't a moral failing; it's a neurobiological drive."

Forgetfulness can also lead to missed payments and late fees, something many people refer to as the ‘ADHD tax’.

And because ADHD can make work and routines harder to maintain, income can sometimes feel unpredictable too.

Abi's Story

When Abi first contacted Money Wellness, she was struggling with around £13,000 of debt.

Her journey hadn't been straightforward.

For 13 years, Abi was misdiagnosed with borderline personality disorder before eventually receiving the correct diagnosis of autism and ADHD. The misdiagnosis had an impact on both her wellbeing and her ability to work.

"They misdiagnosed me for 13 years, so it left me really poorly," she explained.

"And now I've got autism and ADHD."

Like many neurodivergent people, Abi found that managing work could be exhausting without the right support.

"ADHD and autism will always affect someone's way to work," she said.

"You've got to have it under control before you can go into doing anything really.

“It needs to be either medicated control or through therapy.

“If it's out of control, it'll just leave you exhausted and burnt out every day."

Abi also experienced a lack of understanding from employers.

"I've been rejected from salons before because either the timekeeping or something else has gone wrong," she revealed.

"I don't find that people understand."

Her story highlights why awareness and understanding matter. When employers, service providers and wider society recognise and support neurodivergent people, they can help remove barriers, reduce financial vulnerability and create opportunities for people to thrive.

Why visibility matters

The theme ‘do you see me?’ is a reminder that every person has unique strengths, experiences and challenges.

For people with learning disabilities and neurodivergent conditions, being seen means more than recognition. It means having access to services that are designed with inclusion in mind, receiving appropriate support and being treated with understanding rather than assumptions.

By listening to our customers' experiences and adapting the support we provide, we can help ensure that everyone has the opportunity to improve their financial wellbeing.

Help is available

If you're finding it difficult to manage your money, support is available.

At Money Wellness, we're here to help you take control of your finances. We can help you:

• find out what benefits you can claim
• create a household budget
• deal with your debts

You don't have to face financial challenges alone. Getting the right support can make a real difference.