Neurodiversity and debt: breaking down barriers in the workplace

For many of us, being in regular, secure work is the key to financial stability.

If you’re on a steady income, you can enjoy your life and plan for the future.

But if you’re neurodivergent, navigating the world of work can often be more complicated.

Conditions such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia and dyspraxia can fundamentally change how people think, process information and manage everyday tasks.

So they can have a major knock-on effect on a person’s financial security.

Why employers need to support neurodivergent staff

Of course, many people who are neurodivergent are perfectly able to manage their money successfully.

But they can still face different and additional barriers, especially when their own workplaces aren’t set up to support them.

If you’re neurodivergent, you might be prone to impulse spending or forgetting payment deadlines.

Or perhaps you find financial decisions or speaking to other people about money extremely stressful or overwhelming.

But regardless of how neurodiversity affects your relationship with money, you deserve the right support.

Abi’s story

When Abi first contacted Money Wellness, she had around £13,000 of debt.

Her journey hadn’t been straightforward. 

For years, she had been misdiagnosed with borderline personality disorder, before eventually receiving the correct diagnosis of autism and ADHD.

That misdiagnosis had a huge impact on her wellbeing and ability to work.

“They misdiagnosed me for 13 years, so it left me really poorly,” she explains.

“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 misunderstanding 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.”

Abi’s story shows why it’s so important for employers to understand neurodiversity and have inclusive practices in place.

When bosses recognise and support people like Abi, they’re giving them a fairer chance to succeed at work and reduce financial vulnerability.

And that’s a win-win for everyone.

Work doesn’t always guarantee financial security

Even though being in work means you have a regular income, it doesn’t mean you can’t and won’t experience financial struggles.

We know that firsthand, as a significant number of those who turn to us for support are in work.

In fact, 25% of our clients are in full-time employment, 12% work part-time and 10% are self-employed.

So that’s a big portion of the workforce experiencing financial hardship.

And for people who are neurodivergent, challenges like insecure work, misunderstandings in the workplace or inconsistent income, caused by periods of burnout or job changes, can make it even harder to manage money.

The good news is that getting the right support can make a real difference.

After receiving advice from Money Wellness, 

• 77% said they felt a weight had been lifted
• 68% felt less anxious
• 57% said they were enjoying life more

Sometimes, just having someone help you understand your options can make everything feel far more manageable.

Help is available

If you’re struggling, then it might be time to see what help you can get.

We’re here to give you practical support, such as helping you:

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