Night owls are more likely to retire early and claim disability benefits, new research finds

From the Newshound archive · first published 30 September 2026.

People who stay up late and struggle to rise early face a significantly higher risk of leaving work through ill health and relying on disability benefits, according to new research. The finding adds financial consequences to a growing list of health risks already linked to evening chronotypes. Scientists say the mismatch between night owls' natural body clocks and standard working hours may drive the problem.

Those with evening chronotypes face greater risk of early disability retirement than early risers, the study found.

The health and financial toll of being a night owl grows worse later in life, researchers warn.

The findings raise fresh questions about whether workplace schedules are pushing late-sleepers towards welfare dependency.