Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
PIP is extra money to help with the extra costs of a long-term health condition or disability. It is not means-tested, and you can get it whether or not you work.
Disability benefits
Extra money if you have a long-term health condition or disability. Some benefits help with the extra costs of disability. Others help if your health stops you working.
Which benefit is right for me?
It mostly depends on age:
| Age | Benefit | Self-check |
|---|---|---|
| Under 16 | DLA for children | DLA check |
| 16 to State Pension age | Personal Independence Payment (PIP) | PIP points self-check |
| State Pension age or over | Attendance Allowance | Attendance Allowance check |
If you already get PIP or DLA when you reach State Pension age, you can usually keep it. In Scotland, these benefits are being replaced by payments from Social Security Scotland.
PIP, Attendance Allowance and DLA do not depend on your income or savings, and you can get them whether or not you work.
If your health stops you working
These benefits are about work, not the extra costs of disability. You can get them as well as PIP.
| Benefit | Who it is for |
|---|---|
| New Style ESA | People who cannot work, or can only work a little, and have paid enough National Insurance. Savings do not matter. |
| Universal Credit health element | People on Universal Credit whose health means they cannot work or prepare for work. Universal Credit depends on income and savings. |
Attendance Allowance
Attendance Allowance is extra money for people over State Pension age who need help with personal care, or someone to keep an eye on them, because of an illness or disability.
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children
DLA helps with the extra costs of looking after a child under 16 who has a disability or health condition and needs much more care or supervision than other children their age.
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) explained
New Style ESA is money for people who cannot work, or can only work a little, because of an illness or disability. It depends on the National Insurance you have paid, not on your savings.
Universal Credit health element explained
The health element is extra Universal Credit for people whose illness or disability means they cannot work or prepare for work. From April 2026 there are two rates.