Support with Extra Costs: DLA and PIP

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for Children 

DLA helps with the extra costs of caring for a child with a disability or health condition.

Who can get it?

You can claim for a child if they:

• are under 16
• need more care or have difficulty walking than other children their age
• meet the residency rules (live in NI/UK for set periods, not under immigration control)

You can claim if you care for the child as a parent, guardian, grandparent, foster parent or sibling.

How much is it?

• Between £29.20 and £187.45 a week (tax-free)
• Paid every 4 weeks into your account
• Amount depends on the level of care and/or mobility help needed

DLA has 2 parts

Care – daily living and supervision

• Lowest: some help during day/night
• Middle: frequent or constant help
• Highest: help needed day and night, or life expectancy under 12 months

Mobility – help with getting around

• Lowest: can walk but needs help outdoors
• Highest: cannot walk, or only short distances, or blind/severely sight impaired

Children on the highest mobility rate may qualify for the Motability Scheme.

Extra support

• If you care 35+ hours a week for a child on middle or highest care rate, you may claim Carer’s Allowance.
• Special rules apply for children under 3 and those with a life-limiting condition.

More info

For advice or help with applying, contact the Disability and Carers Service.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for Adults 

What is PIP?

• PIP is a benefit to help with the extra costs of having a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability.
• It’s for people aged 16 up to State Pension age.
• The condition or disability must be expected to last at least 12 months.

Who can get PIP?

You can get PIP if you:

• are 16 or over and under State Pension age
• have a physical or mental condition that causes difficulty doing everyday tasks or getting around
• have had those difficulties for at least 3 months, and expect them to last at least another 9 months
• live in Northern Ireland, and have usually lived in NI, Great Britain, Jersey, Guernsey, or the Isle of Man for two of the last three years

What PIP covers (its “parts”)

There are two parts to PIP: you might get one or both, depending on how your life is affected.

Daily living part

For help with things like:

• preparing & eating food
• washing, dressing, bathing
• managing toilet needs
• communicating or understanding signs/words

Mobility part

For help with getting around, or planning & following journeys.

How much you get

Here are the weekly rates (2025/26):

• PIP is tax-free.
• It is paid every four weeks.
• Having savings, being in or out of work, or getting other benefits does not stop you from getting PIP.

Things that help make a claim

To claim PIP, you’ll usually go through these steps:

1. Contact the PIP Centre (by phone, post, or using a video relay service if you use sign language).
2. Fill in a form called “How your condition affects you” and send in any medical or support evidence.
3. You may have a health assessment — in person or by phone.
4. The PIP team will review all the info and decide how much (if any) PIP you’ll get.

Special circumstances

• If you’re nearing the end of life (diagnosed as having 12 months or less to live), there are faster, simpler rules. You may not need to fill in all the usual forms.
• If you don’t agree with the PIP decision, you can ask for it to be looked at again (called a mandatory reconsideration) and then appeal if needed.