Your child has been on DLA for years. The money has helped. The routines are set. And now a letter arrives from the DWP saying it's time to move to PIP.
The transition from DLA to PIP happens around your child's 16th birthday. It's not automatic. The assessment is different. The criteria are different. And the outcome isn't guaranteed, even if your child's needs haven't changed.
This is one of the most stressful transitions SEND families face. Here's what actually happens and how to prepare.
When does it happen?
The DWP will write to you (or your child) about 20 weeks before their 16th birthday, inviting them to claim PIP. DLA doesn't stop immediately. It continues until the PIP decision is made, so there shouldn't be a gap in payments.
This is the transition process you'll go through. The key reassurance is that your child's money doesn't stop while they're assessed.
How PIP differs from DLA
PIP and DLA are fundamentally different benefits. They assess different things in different ways.
The biggest change is the assessment. DLA is decided on the paperwork you submit. PIP usually involves a face-to-face or telephone assessment with a health professional who scores your child against specific descriptors.
The PIP assessment
The PIP assessment scores your child across 10 daily living activities and 2 mobility activities. Each activity has descriptors worth different points.
Daily living activities include: preparing food, eating and drinking, managing treatments, washing and bathing, managing toilet needs, dressing, communicating, reading and understanding signs, engaging with others, making decisions about money.
Mobility activities include: planning and following journeys, moving around.
To qualify for the standard rate, you need 8 points. For enhanced rate, 12 points.
These scoring thresholds directly determine whether your child gets the standard or enhanced daily living rate.
The PIP descriptors use specific language. Read them carefully before the assessment and think about which descriptor best matches your child's actual abilities. Don't undersell the difficulties. If your child can do something "but only with help" or "but not reliably," say so.
Why families lose money
Many families receive a lower PIP award than their DLA award, even when the child's needs haven't changed. This happens because:
- DLA has three care rates. PIP has two daily living rates. Some children on DLA middle rate care don't score enough points for PIP standard daily living.
- The assessment method changes. DLA relied on your written evidence. PIP relies partly on an assessor's judgement, and assessors don't always understand complex needs, especially hidden disabilities.
- PIP descriptors don't map directly to DLA criteria. The things PIP scores (like managing money or reading signs) aren't the same as what DLA assessed.
How to prepare
Start preparing well before the assessment:
- Gather updated evidence - recent letters from professionals (GP, consultant, therapist, school)
- Read the PIP descriptors - understand exactly what's being assessed
- Keep a diary for 2-4 weeks showing daily support needs
- Think about your child's worst days - the assessment should reflect the support needed on difficult days, not just good days
- Note what happens without help - if you stopped assisting, what would happen?
- Prepare your child if they'll attend the assessment - explain what will happen
Preparation makes a genuine difference in how the assessment goes. Get these tasks started well before the assessor visits.
DLA was about your child compared to a same-age peer. PIP is about the impact of their condition on daily activities regardless of age. At 16, many tasks that were "normal for a child" become expected adult skills. Frame your evidence accordingly.
If PIP is refused or awarded at a lower rate
If you disagree with the PIP decision, you can:
- Request a mandatory reconsideration within one month of the decision
- Appeal to the tribunal if the MR isn't successful
The PIP tribunal success rate is around 65-70%. Like DLA, if you believe the decision is wrong, challenging it is worth doing.
Getting help
Citizens Advice helps with PIP claims and appeals. They can attend assessments with you and help with mandatory reconsiderations.
Scope has guides on the DLA to PIP transition, including what to expect from the assessment.
Disability Rights UK publishes detailed PIP guidance and factsheets.
How our free tool can help
The AI assistant at SEND Parents Help covers the DLA to PIP transition in detail. You can ask about specific PIP descriptors, how to frame your child's needs for the assessment, and what to do if the outcome is wrong.
Start preparing early
The letter will come. When it does, you'll be ready if you've already gathered evidence, understood the descriptors, and thought about how your child's needs translate into PIP language.
The transition is stressful, but it's manageable. And if the outcome is wrong, the appeals process is there to fix it.
Sources and further reading
Legislation and official guidance
- PIP: how to claim (official PIP application guidance)
- PIP assessment criteria (descriptors and scoring)
- DLA to PIP transition (when DLA stops and PIP starts)
Statistics
- PIP assessment and award statistics (assessment outcomes and appeal rates)