Welcome to the Benefitia blog.

I thought I would begin my blog with a comprehensive overview of the eligibility criteria for Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP), and Attendance Allowance in the UK, along with some lesser-known facts that may be beneficial for those who are intending to claim.

Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

Who can claim:

• Children under 16 in England or Wales. In Scotland, DLA has been replaced by Child Disability Payment.

• New claims are not accepted for adults; existing adult claimants may continue receiving DLA if they were born on or before 8 April 1948.

• You have the right to reside, generally needing settled or pre-settled status if applicable.

• Special rules apply to those who have a terminal illness and are expected to live less than 12 months. Applying by the special rules route can lead to faster processing and potentially higher benefit rates. 

  
  

Eligibility criteria:

• Your child must pass the ‘Past Presence Test’ or PPT that states your child must have been present in the UK for 26 weeks out of the last 52 weeks.

• Your child must require substantially more care or supervision than a child of the same age without a disability.

  
  

Key Components:

• DLA comprises two components: the care component and the mobility component. Eligibility for one or both depends on the level of help needed.

  
  

Lesser-known facts:

·       No diagnosis needed to apply. You don’t have to wait for an official medical diagnosis—if there's a clear underlying condition causing extra care or mobility needs, you can apply.

·       Wide range of eligible conditions. DLA isn't limited to physical impairments—it includes learning difficulties, autism spectrum disorders, emotional or behavioural conditions too.

·       Not means-tested. Your income, savings, or employment status don’t affect eligibility.

·       Doesn't reduce other benefits. DLA isn’t deducted from other benefits—it’s ignored as income, and often unlocks additional support like Carer’s Allowance or higher tax credits.

·       Care for young children is covered. The care component can be claimed from 3 months old, or from birth if your child has a terminal illness. The mobility component kicks in from age 3.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

Who can claim:

• Individuals aged 16 or over and under State Pension age.

• The past presence test for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) requires that a claimant has been present in Great Britain for 2 out of the last 3 years before the date of their PIP claim. Great Britain includes England, Wales, and Scotland, but not Northern Ireland. This means that a claimant must have resided in Great Britain for at least 2 years within the 3 years immediately preceding their claim. The two years do not need to be consecutive. 

• You have the right to reside, generally needing settled or pre-settled status if applicable.

• The Personal Independence Payment (PIP) has special rules for individuals with a terminal illness, allowing for a faster, more streamlined application process and potentially higher, quicker payments. If a healthcare professional believes a person has less than 12 months to live due to a progressive disease, they can apply under these special rules. 

  
  

Eligibility criteria:

• You have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability.

• You have difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around.

• These difficulties have lasted for at least 3 months and are expected to continue for at least another 9 months.

  
  

Key Components:

• Daily Living — helps with tasks like preparing food, bathing, managing medications, dressing, communication, planning, etc.

• Mobility — assists with getting around, if you struggle with physically moving or planning journeys

  
  

Lesser-known facts:

• PIP is not means-tested; income and savings do not affect eligibility.

• The assessment focuses on how your condition affects you, not the condition itself.

• Receiving PIP may make you eligible for additional benefits or allowances in other benefits, such as Income Support or Universal Credit—like the enhanced disability premium or awards for carers The government is reviewing PIP rules, with potential changes expected after autumn 2026 when the Timms Review concludes.

  
  

Attendance Allowance

Who can claim:

• Individuals who have reached State Pension age.

• The past presence test for Attendance Allowance (AA) requires that you have been present in the UK for 104 weeks out of the previous 156 weeks (two out of the last three years). This test is a condition for receiving AA, along with other requirements like being of state pension age and having care needs for at least six months. 

• Special Rules exist for those applying for Attendance Allowance with a terminal illness, often referred to as "special rules for end of life". These rules allow for faster and potentially higher rate payments if a doctor confirms a life expectancy of 12 months or less. Claims can be made on behalf of the individual, even without their knowledge, and the higher rate is automatically awarded. 

  
  

Eligibility criteria:

• You have a physical or mental disability or illness.

• Your condition is severe enough that you need help caring for yourself or someone to supervise you for your safety.

• You have needed that help for at least 6 months.

• You have the right to reside, generally needing settled or pre-settled status if applicable.

  
  

Main Components:

Questions explore the need for personal care or supervision. This includes help with tasks like washing, dressing, eating, using the toilet, or getting around indoors. It also covers the need for supervision to ensure safety, such as managing medication or preventing falls. 

Lesser-known facts:

• Attendance Allowance is not means-tested; your income and savings do not affect your claim.

• You do not need to have a carer to qualify; it's about the help you need, not the help you receive.

• If you're terminally ill, you can claim immediately without the 6-month waiting period.

• A significant number of eligible individuals do not claim this benefit, potentially missing out on up to £5,644 annually.

  
  

Overview of Success Rates

In the 12 months leading up to October 2024, 43% of new Disability Living Allowance (DLA) claims under normal rules were successful.

In 2024, roughly 55% of new Personal Independence Payment (PIP) claims that went through an assessment were awarded PIP. This figure is based on initial decisions made between January 2020 and December 2024. 

Over the last five years (August 2019 to July 2024), 42% of normal rules new claims for Attendance Allowance were successful. This figure excludes claims that were withdrawn. 

(All the above statistics are taken from GOV.UK.)

These numbers do not make for easy reading. Many who are eligible for these benefits, simply are not awarded them even if they meet the criteria, because they have not provided the right amount of detail in their form which reference the different criteria clearly.  If you need any help with writing your DLA, PIP or Attendance Allowance forms or simply would like it to be checked, then please get in touch by emailing on maria@benefitiaforms.co.uk