PIP vs DLA - What's the Difference?

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) replaced Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for adults aged 16-64 in 2013. DLA still exists for children under 16. If you are an adult currently on DLA, you will eventually be moved to PIP. Here are the key differences.

Key Differences

Assessment: DLA was largely self-reported with no assessment. PIP requires a health assessment (usually by phone) by an independent assessor. This is the biggest change and the most common source of anxiety.

Activities: DLA had care and mobility components assessed broadly. PIP has 12 specific activities, each with defined descriptors and point values. This is more structured but also means you need to match specific criteria.

Points system: DLA did not use points. PIP uses a points-based system where you need 8+ points for standard rate and 12+ for enhanced rate in each component.

Reviews: Many DLA awards were indefinite. All PIP awards have a review date, though some are set 10+ years away for stable conditions.

Mobility: DLA higher rate mobility required "virtually unable to walk." Under PIP, the moving around descriptors that score 12 points (enough for the enhanced rate on their own) are "Can stand and then move more than 1 metre but no more than 20 metres, either aided or unaided" and not being able, either aided or unaided, to stand or move more than 1 metre. The PIP threshold is generally considered more restrictive.

Transitioning from DLA to PIP

If you are being moved from DLA to PIP and you claim within the time allowed, your DLA keeps being paid while the DWP decides your PIP claim, as long as you send back the information it asks for and attend a consultation if one is needed. GOV.UK says DLA continues until at least 28 days after the PIP decision, and if you are awarded PIP it starts as soon as your DLA payments end, so there should be no gap. If the PIP award is lower than your DLA, the difference can be significant - this is why getting the wording right on the PIP form matters enormously.

What to Do If You Get a DLA to PIP Letter

The invitation is usually headed "Your Disability Living Allowance is ending". The DWP's example letter on GOV.UK explains that you cannot choose to stay on DLA and that you will not be moved to PIP automatically. The time limits are strict, so work through these steps as soon as it arrives.

New From 30 October 2026: DLA Restored If You Had Good Reason

The Social Security (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2026 (SI 2026/1063) were made on 6 October 2026 and came into force on 30 October 2026. Regulation 10 changes the DLA to PIP transfer rules in the Personal Independence Payment (Transitional Provisions) Regulations 2013. This part of the SI extends to England and Wales only.

When DLA can be stopped part-way through the move

Regulation 13 of the transitional rules ends your DLA if, after you have claimed PIP, either of these happens:

• the DWP makes a "negative determination" on both PIP components because, without good reason, you did not send back the information or evidence it asked for (usually the "How your disability affects you" form) or did not attend or take part in the assessment consultation
• the DWP decides you unreasonably failed to attend in person when required, or failed to provide evidence or information it required in connection with the claim

When that happens, DLA ends at the end of a 14-day period that starts with your first DLA pay day after the decision. Before this change, if good reason was only accepted later, the rules did not clearly say what should happen to your DLA.

What the new rule says

The new regulation 13(1A) says that where it is accepted that you had good reason for the failure, the decision that ended your DLA "is treated as not made" and your entitlement to DLA "is reinstated as if the determination had never been made". This applies whether good reason is accepted on its own or at the same time as the decision on your PIP claim, for example on a mandatory reconsideration or an appeal. The DWP's explanatory memorandum says this puts you back in the position you would have been in if the negative determination had not been made, with no break in payment.

The SI also removes the old regulation 13(2), which started PIP from the day after DLA had ended under regulation 13(1). Instead your DLA now ends in the normal way under regulation 17: at the end of 28 days starting with the first pay day after the PIP decision, with PIP, if awarded, starting the next day.

Why the law changed

The old wording did not say what happens to DLA when good reason is shown later, and two Upper Tribunal decisions disagreed. In OM v SSWP (PIP) [2017] UKUT 458 (AAC) the tribunal held that the negative determination is treated as not made and DLA continues until the PIP decision. In SR v SSWP (PIP) [2024] UKUT 308 (AAC) it held that DLA still ends even when good reason is accepted, with PIP payable only from the day after DLA ended, which could leave someone with no benefit in payment until PIP was awarded. The DWP says it accepted OM and has reinstated DLA in these cases since that decision, and the new rule writes that approach into the regulations so that people who show good reason do not face a break in support.

What counts as good reason

Regulation 10 of the PIP Regulations 2013 says the matters taken into account include your state of health at the time and the nature of any disability you have. The DWP's explanatory memorandum adds that its guidance recognises examples such as domestic emergencies or not receiving letters, and that case law confirms good reason can include an unsuitable consultation location. The list is not closed, so explain your own circumstances in full and send evidence, such as a GP or hospital letter covering the date, proof of a family emergency or anything showing that a letter did not reach you.

What the new rule does not cover

• Not claiming PIP at all. If you never make the claim after the invitation letter, the separate suspension rules in the checklist above apply. Regulation 13(1A) is about missed forms, evidence and consultations after a claim has been made.
• Scotland and Northern Ireland. The change extends to England and Wales only. In Scotland, existing DLA claims have moved to Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance (see PIP in Scotland), and Northern Ireland has its own PIP rules (see PIP in Northern Ireland).
• Decisions made before 30 October 2026. The SI contains no special provision about older decisions. If your DLA was stopped this way before then and you think you had good reason, get advice from Citizens Advice or a welfare rights adviser about challenging it.

Children Turning 16

When a child on DLA turns 16, they will be invited to claim PIP. A parent or guardian can act as appointee and handle the entire process. The DLA continues until the PIP decision is made. The DWP's statistics show that 54,000 young people aged 16 and 17 had DLA in March 2026, 34% of the working-age DLA caseload.

Component Comparison Side by Side

The two benefits sound similar but the underlying tests are quite different. Here is how the components map:

• DLA Care - Low Rate (attention for a significant portion of the day, or someone to prepare a cooked main meal) - roughly equivalent to PIP daily living scoring 4-7 points.
• DLA Care - Middle Rate (frequent attention throughout day OR continual supervision OR significant attention at night) - roughly equivalent to PIP standard daily living (8-11 points).
• DLA Care - High Rate (frequent attention day AND night OR terminal illness) - roughly equivalent to PIP enhanced daily living (12+ points).
• DLA Mobility - Lower Rate (guidance and supervision needed outdoors) - roughly equivalent to PIP standard mobility (8-11 points), often Activity 11.
• DLA Mobility - Higher Rate (virtually unable to walk OR severe sight impairment OR severe behavioural difficulties) - roughly equivalent to PIP enhanced mobility (12+ points).

The transition is not automatic: a Middle Rate Care + Higher Rate Mobility DLA award often becomes Enhanced + Enhanced PIP, but only if the PIP2 form is completed well. Many claimants drop a rate during transition simply because of how they describe themselves.

Why the Mental Health Activities Often Help Transition Claims

DLA undervalued mental health. PIP introduced Activity 9 (Engaging with other people face to face), Activity 10 (Making budgeting decisions) and explicit recognition of mental health impact on Activities 3 (Managing therapy), 4 (Washing and bathing), 6 (Dressing) and 11 (Planning journeys). For claimants moving from DLA to PIP who have depression, anxiety, PTSD, autism or learning disability, the new activities often add 6-12 points that DLA never recognised.

If your DLA was based mainly on physical conditions, list every mental health symptom too when applying for PIP. Even mild depression or generalised anxiety can score points if it affects daily activities reliably.

The 20 Metre Rule - The Biggest Transition Loss

DLA Higher Rate Mobility required being "virtually unable to walk." There was no fixed distance. PIP enhanced mobility needs 12 points across Activities 11 and 12, and points from lower descriptors in the two activities are added together. The descriptors that reach 12 points on their own are:

• Activity 12 descriptors e and f: you can stand and then move more than 1 metre but no more than 20 metres, either aided or unaided (e), or you cannot, either aided or unaided, stand or move more than 1 metre (f), judged on whether you can do it safely, reliably, repeatedly and in a reasonable time (12 points), OR
• Activity 11 descriptor f: you cannot follow the route of a familiar journey without another person, an assistance dog or an orientation aid (12 points)

If you previously scored DLA Higher Rate Mobility because you walked "with great difficulty" but more than 50m, you will likely drop to PIP standard rate. To keep enhanced rate, focus on reliability - if you have to stop multiple times, take more than twice as long as a healthy person or could not safely repeat the walk shortly afterwards, your reliable distance is much shorter than the maximum you can manage on a good day.

What to Do If Your DLA Reassessment Came in Lower

1. Request the assessment report (PA4) immediately by calling 0800 121 4433. You usually receive it within 7-14 days.
2. Read the report against your form. Look for direct quotes that misrepresent what you said, descriptor decisions that ignore evidence and "informal observations" that contradict your real abilities.
3. Request a Mandatory Reconsideration within one calendar month of the decision letter. Include a written rebuttal pointing to specific errors and fresh evidence.
4. If MR is unsuccessful, lodge a tribunal appeal within one month of the MR decision. Around two thirds of appeals succeed (Source: HMCTS Tribunal Statistics).
5. Get welfare rights advice from Citizens Advice, a local law centre or a disability charity. DLA-to-PIP transition appeals are one of the most common cases tribunals see.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is PIP harder to get than DLA was?

The assessment is different, not necessarily harder. DLA was self-reported with no assessment. PIP requires a functional assessment. Some people score higher on PIP (especially those with mental health conditions, which PIP assesses more thoroughly than DLA did). Others score lower. The key difference is that PIP uses a structured points system while DLA was more subjective.

I lost my DLA when moving to PIP. What can I do?

If you were refused PIP or given a lower award, request a Mandatory Reconsideration, normally within one month of the decision letter. If your DLA was stopped because you did not return the form or attend the assessment and you had a good reason, explain it and send evidence: from 30 October 2026 the law (SI 2026/1063) says your DLA is reinstated as if it had never stopped once good reason is accepted. Many people who lost DLA during the PIP transition won at tribunal.

My DLA was indefinite - will my PIP be too?

Not automatically. PIP awards must have a review date. The DWP can set this 1, 2, 3, 5 or 10 years from the award. For stable lifelong conditions, the longest awards are commonly 10 years with a light touch review at the end. Indefinite-style awards (called "ongoing awards with light touch reviews") do exist but you must qualify for them.

Do I have to apply for PIP, or will the DWP just contact me?

The DWP contacts adults on DLA when it is their turn to move to PIP, so you do not need to do anything until the letter arrives unless your circumstances change. Once you are invited you do have to make the PIP claim yourself, within 28 days starting with the date of the letter. If you miss that, your DLA is suspended and you have a further 28 days to claim and get it restored. After that your DLA ends, although you can still claim PIP.

Does PIP affect my Motability vehicle?

Only if your mobility component changes. You need enhanced mobility (12+ points across Activities 11 and 12) to qualify for Motability. If you had DLA Higher Rate Mobility with a Motability car and your PIP comes in at standard mobility, Motability says you can keep the car for eight weeks after your DLA payments stop. Its one-off transitional support package only covered unsuccessful reassessments up to 31 July 2025.

What about children turning 16 - is the process different?

The process is similar but a parent or guardian can act as appointee. The DLA continues until the PIP decision is made. The 16-year-old will be expected to attend the assessment (with support). If the child has severe mental capacity issues, the appointee can attend in their place.

Are PIP rates higher or lower than DLA rates?

Neither: for 2026/27 the rates match. PIP enhanced daily living (£114.60 a week) is the same as DLA highest rate care, PIP enhanced mobility (£80.00) matches DLA higher rate mobility, PIP standard daily living (£76.70) matches DLA middle rate care and PIP standard mobility (£30.30) matches DLA lower rate mobility. The risk is not the rate itself but losing a component or dropping from enhanced to standard during transition. Benefits for extra needs arising from disability are due to rise by 3.5% from 12 April 2027 in England and Wales (written statement HCWS427, 28 October 2026). See PIP rates 2026 for the full table.