What's the difference between Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance and Personal Independence Payment? Can I apply for any of them?

Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) are all benefits to help you meet the extra costs of a disability - especially care help and help to get out and about. If you apply for Attendance Allowance while getting DLA, the DWP will usually reassess your DLA award instead. However, if you was under 65 years of age on 8 April 2013 in receipt of DLA, and reports of change of circumstances, they will be asked to claim PIP instead of DLA and their DLA will stop.

The main difference

  • DLA is for anyone under 16
  • PIP is for people over 16 and under state pension age
  • Attendance Allowance is for people over state pension age (if you already get PIP when you reach pension age you can continue to get it as long as you meet the qualifying criteria).

You can find more detailed information on each benefit on our Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance and Personal Independence Payment webpages.

Please note: PIP has been replaced by Adult Disability Payment for new claimants living in Scotland and is administered by Social Security Scotland. DLA for children has been replaced by Child Disability Payment, DLA for adults has been replaced by Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance has been replaced by Pension Age Disability Payment. Please see What is the Adult Disability Payment (ADP) in Scotland?

Updated 17.08.26

Did this answer your question?

Related questions

Brought to you by