What if I claim Disability Living Allowance (DLA)?

If you are already claiming Disability Living Allowance (DLA), the Social Security Agency (SSA) will assess you for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) if you are under 65 and:

• Your fixed period award for DLA ends, or
• You tell the SSA your care or mobility needs have changed

The SSA will ask everyone else in NI claiming DLA to claim PIP by July 2019. This includes people who have a lifetime award. If you do not claim PIP when the SSA asks you to, your DLA will stop.

The SSA will contact you when they are going to review your claim. You will have 4 weeks to make your claim for PIP. You will not be allowed to stay on DLA.

Can I claim PIP earlier if I want to?

You can choose to claim PIP earlier, but you should think about this carefully. Many people who get DLA may not get PIP at all or will get PIP at a lower rate. This is because the entitlement conditions are different. You can’t get PIP at the same time as DLA.

If you are over 65

If you are over 65 you cannot make a new claim for DLA or PIP. You will need to claim Attendance Allowance.