PIP vs DLA: what can families claim?

What are PIP and DLA, and how do they differ?

Both are tax-free benefits designed to contribute towards the extra costs that come with a disability, a long-term illness or a mental health condition. They are not payments for being unable to work, and they are not a replacement for earnings. You can claim them whether or not you have a job.

The main difference is age. Disability Living Allowance for children is for those under 16. Personal Independence Payment is for people aged 16 or over who have not yet reached state pension age. Once someone is past state pension age and has not claimed before, a different benefit, Attendance Allowance, is usually the route. That is a separate topic, but it is worth knowing it exists.

The other major difference is how need is judged. DLA for a child asks how much more help the child needs than other children of the same age who do not have a disability. PIP asks how the person's condition affects specific everyday activities, such as preparing food, managing money, communicating or moving around.

Who can claim DLA for a child?

A parent or carer can claim DLA on behalf of a child under 16 in England and Wales who has a disability or health condition that means they need substantially more care, supervision or help getting around than a child of the same age would. The condition can be physical, sensory, learning-related, neurodevelopmental or a mental health condition. A formal diagnosis helps, but what matters is the practical impact on everyday life.

DLA for children has two parts:

• A care component, paid at one of three levels, for children who need extra help with personal care or supervision.
• A mobility component, paid at one of two levels, for children who have difficulty walking or getting around safely. There are minimum ages for the mobility component, which GOV.UK sets out.

A child can receive one component or both. Rules also apply about how long the need has lasted and is expected to last, and about minimum ages for each part, so read the current GOV.UK guidance before you apply.

Who can claim PIP?

PIP is for people aged 16 or over who have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability and who find everyday activities or getting around difficult. As a general rule you must have had these difficulties for a minimum period, and expect them to continue for a further period. GOV.UK sets out the exact timings, and special rules exist for people nearing the end of life.

PIP also has two parts, each paid at a standard or an enhanced rate:

• Daily living component, which looks at activities such as eating and drinking, washing, dressing, reading, managing treatments and making budgeting decisions.
• Mobility component, which looks at planning and following a journey and moving around physically.

The decision is made by scoring how often and how safely you can carry out each activity. Importantly, PIP is based on the effect of your condition, not on the condition's name. Two people with the same diagnosis may receive different awards, and someone with a so-called invisible disability, such as autism, ADHD or anxiety, can qualify if their daily life is significantly affected.

How do PIP and DLA compare side by side?

The table below summarises the main differences for England. Amounts are deliberately left out because they are reviewed regularly and vary by rate; the current figures are on GOV.UK.

What happens when a child on DLA turns 16?

This is the point at which many families feel anxious, so it helps to know the process. In England and Wales, a young person on DLA does not simply carry on receiving it indefinitely. Around their 16th birthday, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) normally writes to invite them to claim PIP. DLA then stops at a point set out in that letter, so do not ignore it.

A few practical points:

• It is a new claim. Having an award of DLA does not guarantee the same level of PIP. The assessment is different, so the amount may go up, down or stay similar.
• The young person becomes the claimant. From 16 they are treated as an adult for benefit purposes. If they cannot manage the claim themselves, a parent or carer can be appointed to act for them.
• Prepare early. Begin gathering evidence and writing notes about daily difficulties before the invitation arrives.
• Other support may change. Entitlement to things like Carer's Allowance, Universal Credit elements or Motability can depend on which benefit and which component are awarded, so review them after the decision.

What about adults who are still on DLA?

DLA closed to new adult claims some years ago. People who were already receiving it as working-age adults have been, or are being, invited to claim PIP in stages. If you are in that group you will be contacted by letter, and you should not need to do anything until you are. Some people over a certain age at the time the change was introduced were allowed to stay on DLA. If you are unsure which group you fall into, check GOV.UK or ask an adviser rather than assuming.

How do you apply for PIP or DLA?

The route depends on the benefit and the nation. In general:

1. Check eligibility on GOV.UK. The official pages for PIP and for DLA for children explain the rules and give the current ways to claim.
2. Start the claim. For PIP in England, you usually begin by contacting DWP, by phone or in writing, and then complete a detailed form about how your condition affects you. DLA for children has its own claim form. Check GOV.UK for the current options, including support if you cannot use a phone or need information in an accessible format.
3. Describe your worst days honestly. Forms ask about your ability to do things reliably, safely, to an acceptable standard and in a reasonable time. Say what happens on bad days, not only the good ones.
4. Add evidence. Letters and reports from your GP, consultant, therapist, school, special educational needs coordinator (SENCO), social worker or support worker can all help. If your child has an Education, Health and Care plan (EHCP), it is useful supporting information.
5. Attend any consultation. Some PIP claimants are asked to attend an assessment, by phone, video or face to face. You can ask for adjustments and, if appropriate, bring someone with you.
6. Wait for the decision. You will receive a letter explaining the outcome and the reasons.

A claim made by phone or online is usually dated from the point it begins, so it is worth starting the process even if you need more time to finish the form. Check the current time limits on GOV.UK.

How much can you get?

The amount depends on the benefit, the component and the rate awarded. Rates are set by the government, are usually reviewed each April, and are published on GOV.UK. Because the figures change and also differ between nations, this article does not quote them. Look up the current weekly rates for PIP and DLA on GOV.UK, and for Scotland on the Social Security Scotland website, before you plan around any sum.

Some points that matter beyond the amount itself:

• Neither benefit is means-tested, and neither counts as taxable income.
• A higher award can unlock other help. For instance, certain rates of the care or daily living component may open the door to Carer's Allowance for the person providing care, subject to its own conditions.
• Some mobility awards may allow access to the Motability scheme, and other local support, such as a Blue Badge, has its own separate rules.
• Means-tested benefits such as Universal Credit may include extra elements linked to disability. Ask an adviser how your circumstances fit.

What if you disagree with the decision?

You are entitled to challenge a decision you think is wrong. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, you would first ask for a mandatory reconsideration, which means asking the decision-maker to look again. There is a time limit, shown on your decision letter, so act promptly. If the decision does not change, you can usually appeal to an independent tribunal. In Scotland, the first step is called a redetermination, followed by an appeal to a tribunal if needed.

When challenging, focus on what the decision-maker may have missed. Add new evidence, explain how the letter misunderstood your situation, and cite examples. Free, independent advice from Citizens Advice, a local disability charity or a welfare rights service can be very valuable at this stage.

How do Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland differ?

Benefits for disabled people are partly devolved, so the name and the process depend on where you live.

• England and Wales: DLA for children and PIP for adults, run by DWP. The main rules are broadly the same in both.
• Scotland: Child Disability Payment replaces DLA for children, and Adult Disability Payment replaces PIP for working-age adults. Both are run by Social Security Scotland and have their own application process, rules and appeals system. There is also a separate payment for people over state pension age.
• Northern Ireland: DLA for children and PIP for adults continue under the Northern Ireland system, run by the Department for Communities. Details of the process and contact points are on nidirect.

If you move between nations, tell the relevant authority straight away, because the benefit you receive may change.

Where can you find more support and tools?

Applying for benefits is only one part of supporting a disabled child or adult. Many families also look for ways to support attention, memory, learning and independence in everyday life. DYNSEO offers digital games and training that can sit alongside the support you already have. They do not replace professional advice and have no bearing on a benefits decision.

Activities and games to support memory and attention

• For children: COCO THINKS and COCO MOVES offer short, playful games that exercise attention, memory and logic, as well as movement-based activities, which many families use for short daily sessions at home.
• For adults: CLINT provides brain-training games for adults who would like regular, structured practice with memory and concentration.
• For parents and professionals: the training course Supporting a child with autism and the course on invisible disabilities in the classroom give practical ideas for everyday life and school. For adults and carers in care settings, see cognitive stimulation adapted for people with disabilities.

You can also browse all DYNSEO tools to see what suits your family.

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