How to start the claim
Claim PIP by phoning the DWP on 0800 917 2222 from age 16 (PIP replaces DLA at 16). If your teenager already gets DLA, the DWP writes inviting a claim and DLA continues until a PIP decision is made. Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is the benefit that takes over from Disability Living Allowance (DLA) once a young person turns 16. You start it with that phone call to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), set up by the Welfare Reform Act 2012. The DWP then posts the “How your disability affects you” form (the PIP2), which you return by post or complete online within one month.
The steps, in order
- Phone the DWP on 0800 917 2222 to open the claim (an online service is available in some areas). Have your teenager's National Insurance number and bank details to hand.
- Fill in the PIP2 form when it arrives and send it back within a month. Describe a bad day, not a good one, and explain what daily living and getting around actually look like.
- Send supporting evidence with the form: a diagnosis letter, clinic or CAMHS reports, or an EHCP all help, though none is compulsory.
- Attend the assessment. Most claimants are asked to, by phone, video, or in person.
The timeline and the rates
A decision takes roughly 16 weeks on average from the date you claim. PIP is paid in two parts, daily living and mobility, each at a standard or enhanced rate. From 6 April 2026, the daily living component is £76.70 (standard) or £114.60 (enhanced) a week, and the mobility component is £30.30 (standard) or £80.00 (enhanced) a week. These rates change every April, so check the current figures before you rely on them.
The points most guides miss
Nobody is moved across from DLA to PIP automatically at 16. Even a teenager who has had DLA for years has to make a brand-new PIP claim. The DWP sends a letter inviting that claim shortly after the 16th birthday, and DLA keeps being paid only if you claim by the date in that letter. Miss the date and DLA stops, so diarise it the day it arrives.
Two more things catch parents out. Appointee status does not carry over: if you managed your child's DLA because they cannot manage money themselves, you must apply again to be their PIP appointee once they turn 16. And PIP is assessed on how the condition affects daily living and getting around, not on the autism diagnosis itself, so the label alone does not secure an award. You can claim whether your teenager has a diagnosis or only a strong suspicion of one. For a fuller picture of the under-16 stage, see how to claim DLA for a child with autism.
If something goes wrong
If the decision is lower than expected or a nil award, you can ask for a mandatory reconsideration within one month, then appeal to an independent tribunal if that does not change it. Free, expert help is available from Scope and from Citizens Advice, who can check the form before you send it.
This page is general information, not clinical or legal advice.
Where the law comes from
- GOV.UK (DWP): PIP — how to claim, including the 0800 917 2222 number and the 'How your disability affects you' (PIP2) form returned within one month
- GOV.UK (DWP): PIP eligibility — you must be 16 or over, with difficulty with daily living or getting around expected to last at least 12 months; no formal diagnosis required
- GOV.UK (DWP): Disability Living Allowance for children — when your child turns 16; the invitation letter, DLA continuing during assessment, and applying to be an appointee
- Scope: Moving from DLA to PIP when your child turns 16 — no automatic transfer, a new claim is required, and appointee status does not carry over
- GOV.UK (DWP): Benefit and pension rates 2026 to 2027 — PIP daily living £76.70 / £114.60 and mobility £30.30 / £80.00 per week from 6 April 2026
Related
This page is general information, not clinical or legal advice.