Updated 1 May 2012
Personal Independence Payment
From 2013 the Government is proposing to introduce a new benefit called Personal Independence Payment for eligible working age people aged 16 to 64 to replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
The intention is that Personal Independence Payment will focus support to those individuals who experience the greatest challenges to remaining independent and leading full, active and independent lives.
On this page:
The short address for this page is: www.dwp.gov.uk/pip
Consultations
On 26 March 2012 we published the third consultation on the Personal Independence Payment. This consultation is open until 30 June 2012.
On 16 January 2012 we published the second consultation. This consultation is now closed.
On 4 April 2011 we published the Government’s response to the first consultation. This consultation is closed.
Background to Reform
Disability Living Allowance was introduced in 1992 and has not been fundamentally reviewed or reformed since. There is confusion about the purpose of the benefit, it is complex to claim and there is no systematic way of checking that awards remain correct.
We are putting disabled people at the heart of the development of Personal Independence Payment. This includes:
- working with disabled people and their organisations as we develop the new claims and assessment processes
- seeking feedback on our proposals for the draft assessment criteria, which consider an individual’s circumstances and the impact of their health condition or impairment on their everyday life.
The proposals for Personal Independence Payment are included in the Welfare Reform Act 2012.
- Welfare Reform Act 2012
- Disability Living Allowance reform – impact assessment (116KB)
- Disability Living Allowance reform – equality impact assessment (134KB)
What the change means
Disability Living Allowance will end for everyone of working age (16 to 64 on the day Personal Independence Payment is introduced) even if they have an indefinite period award.
Everyone of working age who gets Disability Living Allowance will be asked by letter if they want to claim Personal Independence Payment.
Personal Independence Payment may be more or less than their Disability Living Allowance or not awarded at all. This could affect other benefits they may be entitled to.
Those not found to be entitled to Personal Independence Payment will be informed and their Disability Living Allowance will stop. They may be able to claim other benefits. They cannot continue to receive Disability Living Allowance as an alternative.
There are no current plans to replace Disability Living Allowance with Personal Independence Payment for children under 16 and people over the age of 65 who are already receiving Disability Living Allowance.
Frequently asked questions
- Personal Independence Payment frequently asked questions (111KB) (Updated 23 April 2012)
