Disability benefits if you're under State Pension age

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) can help with extra living costs if you have a disability or long-term physical or mental health condition. It's not means-tested, so your income and savings aren't considered. You have to be 16 or over to get PIP. You cannot get it for the first time if you’re over State Pension age.

There are two parts to PIP:

• the daily living part – if you need help with activities like washing and bathing, getting dressed, or preparing food
• the mobility part – if you need help with things like moving around or planning a journey.

Gov.uk has a full list of what counts towards each part or PIP.

When you’re assessed, you’ll get a points score for each daily living activity and each mobility activity, depending on how well you can manage each one. These points will help the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) work out how much money you’ll get.

PIP is replacing Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and you cannot make a new claim for DLA if you're over 16. Depending on when you were born, your DLA may end. If this happens, the DWP will invite you to apply for PIP instead. Visit Gov.uk for more information about DLA.

If you’re getting DLA, you should not apply for PIP until the DWP contact you, because there’s no guarantee you’ll be awarded PIP, and you risk losing your DLA.

If you want to claim PIP before you're invited, speak to your local Citizens Advice first.

To start your claim, call the PIP new claims phone line. They’ll ask for some information about you and then send you an application form.

In some areas you can apply for PIP online.

If you cannot apply by phone, you can start your application by post, although this will take longer. Send a letter to:

Freepost DWP PIP 1

You do not need a stamp. The DWP will then send you a form asking for some personal information like your age and address. Once you’ve returned this, they’ll send you an application form.

Most people will have to have a medical assessment after returning their application form. This could be face to face, over the phone or by video call. Citizens Advice have a useful guide to help you prepare for a PIP assessment.

Visit Gov.uk if you think you'll need help completing the application form, preparing for an assessment or challenging a decision. Or contact Citizens Advice.

Visit Turn2Us for more information on applying for PIP.

The DWP will write to you to let you know the outcome of your claim and, if successful, how much you’ll get.

If you’re turned down for PIP, you have one month to challenge the decision from the date on the decision letter. For more information, see our factsheet What to do if you disagree with a benefits decision.

Adult Disability Payment (ADP) has replaced Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in Scotland. If you live in Scotland and have not had a letter explaining that you moved from PIP to ADP, contact Social Security Scotland.

ADP can help with extra living costs if you have a disability, long-term physical or mental health condition, or are terminally ill. It's not means-tested, so your income and savings aren't considered. You have to be 16 or over to get it. You cannot get ADP for the first time if you’re over State Pension age.

Like PIP, ADP has two parts:

• the daily living part – if you need help with activities like washing and bathing, getting dressed, or preparing food
• the mobility part – if you need help with moving around or planning and following a journey.

Visit Mygov.scot for a full list of what counts towards each part of ADP.

Although Disability Living Allowance is being phased out in England and Wales, Scottish Adult DLA is not. 

You will not have to move from Scottish Adult DLA to ADP. You can choose to do so, but speak to your local Citizens Advice first to make sure it's the right decision for you.

You can apply for ADP online.

You can also call Social Security Scotland. An adviser will ask you for some basic details and fill in the first part of the application form over the phone with you. If you meet the basic eligibility criteria, they’ll send you the second part of the application form.

After you apply, Social Security Scotland may contact you for more information. They may also ask you to take part in a consultation where they’ll ask you about how your condition affects you. It could be by phone, video call or in person.

If you need help completing the application form, you can meet with one of Social Security Scotland’s advisers by phone, online or in person. Or you can contact Citizens Advice Scotland.

Visit Citizens Advice Scotland for more information on applying for ADP.

Social Security Scotland will write to you to let you know the outcome of your claim and, if successful, how much you’ll get.

If you’re turned down for ADP, you have 42 days to challenge the decision. For more information, see our factsheet What to do if you disagree with a benefits decision.

There are two different rates for both the daily living and mobility parts. You may be able to get one or both parts, depending on how many points you score in your assessment:

If you’re terminally ill and claiming PIP, you’ll automatically get the higher daily living rate. If you’re claiming ADP, you’ll automatically get the higher rates for both the daily living and mobility parts.

If you’re awarded the mobility part for either PIP or ADP, it could also unlock other benefits such as a free bus pass, a Blue Badge to help with parking, and the ability to lease mobility equipment. 

Visit Gov.uk for more information about additional benefits when receiving the mobility component for PIP. Visit Mygov.scot for more information about additional benefits when getting ADP.

You may be able to keep getting one of these benefits once you reach State Pension age. However, if your circumstances change, this might affect your benefits. For more information, see our factsheet Managing your disability benefits over State Pension age.

If you're over State Pension age and do not already get a disability benefit, you should claim:

• Attendance Allowance if you live in England or Wales
• Pension Age Disability Payment if you live in Scotland.