Benefits & money · England
Money to help with disability
Your browser or device provides the reading voice.
Benefits are payments from the government.
Some benefits help with the extra costs of disability.
Personal Independence Payment is one of these benefits.
It is often called PIP.
PIP can help with everyday activities or getting around.
The rules look at how your disability affects you.
Having a learning disability does not mean you will get PIP.
You must meet the benefit rules.
New PIP claims are usually for people aged 16 or over.
Usually you must also be below State Pension age.
State Pension age is when you can usually claim the government retirement pension.
Explain the help you need in everyday life.
For example, someone might remind you to eat or help you travel.
Explain what happens on different days.
Say how often you need help.
You can get PIP while working if you meet the rules.
You can also have savings.
Ask for help to check which benefits you can claim.
Attendance Allowance is another disability benefit.
It may help people who have reached State Pension age.
It covers care or supervision needs, rather than help with getting around.
Check before changing a benefit you already get.
Tell the benefit office about changes it needs to know about.
For example, a hospital or care-home stay can affect payments.
What you can do next
Ask a benefits adviser to help you check the rules.
A benefits adviser helps people understand benefit payments.
Read the government guide to PIP Web pageThis link opens another website.
It may use harder words.
More useful links
- Benefits and Work: guides (paid membership) Web page
Independent information about PIP, ESA, UC, DLA and Attendance Allowance. Some information is free; detailed guides require paid membership. Not government guidance.
These links open other websites.
They may use harder words.
Disability benefits for adults
Understand PIP, Attendance Allowance and where to get help claiming.
Adult disability benefits · England
Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
PIP can help with daily living or mobility needs. New claims are usually for people aged 16 or over and below State Pension age. Difficulties must meet the benefit’s rules, including how long they last. Residence and immigration rules also apply.
Explain what happens in real life
Describe the help, prompting or supervision you need. Give examples from everyday tasks and journeys, including whether you can do things safely and how long they take. Explain how often difficulties happen. Mobility needs can include difficulty planning or following a journey, not only walking.
Working or having savings
You can get PIP while working or with savings, if you meet its rules. It is different from income-related benefits such as Universal Credit. A learning disability or autism diagnosis does not automatically qualify you, and being able to work does not automatically rule you out.
Attendance Allowance at State Pension age
For a new claim at State Pension age, Attendance Allowance may be the appropriate route. It concerns help with personal care or supervision and usually requires those needs to have existed for six months. Special rules apply near the end of life. You do not need to have a carer already. It has no mobility component.
If you already receive a disability benefit
Check your existing award before applying for another benefit. Attendance Allowance cannot normally be paid alongside PIP or DLA. Do not assume that reaching State Pension age means you must end an existing award.
Hospital stays and care homes
Tell the benefit office about relevant changes, including going into hospital or a care home. Payments can be affected by the stay and who pays for the care. Attendance Allowance is not usually payable in a council-funded care home, but may be payable if you fund all the fees yourself.
Words you could use
“Please help me check which disability benefit applies to me and explain the help I need day to day.”
More useful links
- Benefits and Work: guides (paid membership) Web page
Independent information about PIP, ESA, UC, DLA and Attendance Allowance. Some information is free; detailed guides require paid membership. Not government guidance.
These links open other websites.
They may use harder words.
Where the information comes from
Links checked 26 October 2026.
These links open other websites.
They may use harder words.
- GOV.UK: PIP eligibility Web page
Age, disability, residence and other conditions for a PIP claim.
- GOV.UK: what PIP is for Web page
Daily living and mobility activities, including cognitive and mental health needs.
- GOV.UK: Attendance Allowance Web page
What the benefit covers and how to claim.
- GOV.UK: Attendance Allowance eligibility Web page
Conditions, other disability benefits and care-home funding.
- GOV.UK: changes to report for PIP Web page
Hospital, care-home and other changes that may affect an award.
- DWP: disability benefits and Pension Credit Web page
Explains that an existing PIP award can continue after State Pension age while conditions are met.