Personal Independence Payments

Children

Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

This is extra help if you have or care for a child or children under 16 years of age with a disability. There are two components – Daily Living Care and Mobility. The levels vary depending on the severity of the disability. Daily living care has three levels and Mobility has two levels. Your child or children could qualify for a combination of Daily Living Care and Mobility. For more information and how to ask for an application form, please click here.

Adults – age between 16 to state retirement age

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) helps with some of the extra costs caused by long-term ill-health or a disability, if you’re aged 16 to state retirement age.

Those aged 16 up to state retirement age with a disability can claim PIP.  If you had Disability Living Allowance (DLA) in place until you were 16, you will be asked to claim PIP once you turn 16. You can get help for your condition and there are two components: Daily Living Care and Mobility. How much you get is not only based on your condition, but how your condition affects you. You will need an assessment to work out the level of help you get. Your award will be regularly reassessed to make sure you are getting the correct level of support and that support can be a combination of Daily Living Care and Mobility. 

Existing adult claimants of DLA could be asked to claim PIP as some point.

You can find out more information about PIP on the Gov website. 

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) was a benefit people of all ages could claim, but in April 2013 there was a change in legislation and DLA started to be replaced by PIP. Some people over 16 and in receipt of the older style DLA claims, have not yet been asked to be reassessed for PIP. If you are in receipt of the older style DLA, you do not have to do anything unless you feel your condition has deteriorated. If you ask for your claim to be reassessed, you could be guided onto PIP.

Adults over state retirement age

Attendance Allowance (AA) 

If you are over state retirement age and have developed an illness, and are not in receipt of PIP or DLA, you can make a claim for AA.  AA has one component with two levels.

If you are successful with an AA claim, you could be entitled to Guaranteed Pension Credit; a higher level of Housing Benefit if you do not currently have your rent covered in full. You could receive a higher level of Council Tax Support if you do not have Council Tax covered in full. For more information and how to claim, please click here.