Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Personal Independence Payments (PIP)

There are some important changes to benefits when young people turn 16:

• Disability Living Allowance (DLA) will finish at 16 and you will need to apply for a Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
• The Department of Work and Pensions will normally write to you when your child is 15 years and seven months old. They will explain what will happen and check if your child has the mental capacity to manage their own benefit claims, or if they will need an appointee to act on their behalf.
• They will follow this up with a second letter 3 months later.
• Finally, the Department of Work and Pensions will contact your child shortly after their 16th birthday to invite them to claim PIP.

It is important to be aware that PIP is scored differently to DLA and the level may change.

Contact have published a useful information about claiming PIP.