Moving from DLA to PIP: the reassessment process explained

If you receive Disability Living Allowance as a working-age adult, you will at some point be asked to claim Personal Independence Payment instead. PIP replaced DLA for people of working age, and the move can feel daunting, especially as PIP is assessed differently. This guide explains why the change happens, how the reassessment works, and how to give yourself the best chance of keeping the support you need.

Why DLA is being replaced

PIP was introduced from 2013 to replace DLA for people aged 16 to State Pension age. Since then, working-age DLA claimants have gradually been invited to claim PIP instead. DLA still exists for children under 16, and some older people who were on DLA before the changes may still receive it, but for working-age adults the benefit is PIP. This is why, sooner or later, working-age DLA claimants are asked to move across.

How the move is triggered

You will usually be moved from DLA to PIP in one of two ways. Either the DWP writes to invite you to claim PIP as part of the ongoing reassessment, or you report a change in your needs, which prompts the switch. You cannot simply stay on DLA indefinitely once you are invited, so when the letter arrives it is important to act, because your DLA will eventually stop if you do not claim PIP.

The reassessment process

When you are invited to claim PIP, the process is much like a new claim. You contact the DWP to start your claim, then complete the PIP2 form explaining how your condition affects you, and you are usually invited to an assessment with a health professional. A decision maker then decides your PIP award using your form, your evidence and the assessment report, just as for any other PIP claim.

Your DLA continues until the decision

An important reassurance is that your DLA normally continues to be paid while your PIP claim is being assessed, as long as you claim PIP by the deadline in your invitation letter. This means there should be no gap in your payments during the changeover, provided you respond on time. If you miss the deadline, however, your DLA can stop, so do not delay.

PIP is assessed differently

The most important thing to understand is that PIP is not the same as DLA. DLA looked broadly at the care, attention and supervision you needed, while PIP uses a points system scored against specific daily living and mobility activities. Because the tests are different, a past DLA award does not guarantee a PIP award, and the rate you get may be higher, lower, the same, or in some cases nothing at all. Treat your PIP claim as a fresh claim and put your full case forward.

Do not assume your award will carry over

Some people are caught out by assuming that because they had DLA, they will automatically get PIP at an equivalent rate. This is not how it works. You need to demonstrate, against the PIP activities, how your condition affects you now. Read our guides to the PIP2 form and the assessment, gather your evidence, and describe your difficulties fully, rather than relying on your DLA history to speak for you.

Mobility and Motability

If you use the higher rate mobility component of DLA for a Motability vehicle, the move to PIP matters, because you need the enhanced rate of the PIP mobility component to keep a Motability lease. If your PIP award does not include enhanced mobility, you could lose the vehicle, though there are transitional arrangements and support to help in that situation. If you rely on Motability, make your mobility difficulties very clear in your claim and get advice early.

Possible outcomes

After your PIP assessment, you may be awarded more than you got on DLA, the same, less, or you may not qualify. If you are unhappy with the decision, you have the right to challenge it through a Mandatory Reconsideration and then an appeal, and many such challenges succeed. So a disappointing initial decision is not the end of the matter, and it is well worth pursuing if you believe the decision is wrong.

If you live in Scotland

In Scotland, working-age DLA claimants are being moved to Adult Disability Payment rather than PIP. Adult Disability Payment is run by Social Security Scotland and uses a similar framework but a different, generally less intrusive process. If you live in Scotland, the move happens automatically in many cases, and you should follow the guidance from Social Security Scotland.

What to gather before you start

Before you begin your PIP claim, gather what you will need: details of your conditions, your medication, the names of the professionals involved in your care, and any evidence you already have, such as letters and care plans. Having this to hand makes filling in the form easier and means you are less likely to leave out something important. It also helps to keep your DLA paperwork nearby, so you can be consistent about your history.

How long the process takes

The move from DLA to PIP is not instant. From the invitation to the decision can take a number of months, taking in the form, the assessment and the decision. This is another reason not to delay when your invitation arrives, and a reassurance that your DLA continues in the meantime. If the process drags on or you hear nothing, you can chase it up, and an adviser can help if there are long delays.

Keep copies of everything

Throughout the move, keep copies of your form, your evidence and any letters, and make a note of phone calls, including dates and what was said. If your PIP decision is disappointing and you decide to challenge it, this record is invaluable. Good paperwork habits at the start make every later stage easier, whether that is a reconsideration or simply checking your award has been set up correctly.

What if you no longer qualify?

If your PIP assessment results in a lower award or no award, and you believe that is wrong, challenge it through a Mandatory Reconsideration and, if needed, an appeal, as many such decisions are overturned. If the decision is correct because your needs have genuinely changed, an adviser can check whether other support is available. Either way, do not simply accept a decision you think does not reflect your situation.

Looking after your wellbeing

Being reassessed for a benefit you have relied on for years is stressful, and it is normal to feel anxious about it. Give yourself time, ask for help with the paperwork, and lean on family, friends or an adviser. Breaking the process into steps, rather than facing it all at once, makes it more manageable, and support is available at every stage if you need it.

Where to get help

Moving from DLA to PIP is exactly the kind of change where advice pays off, because the new assessment is different and the stakes are high. Citizens Advice and welfare rights services can help you complete your PIP claim and prepare for the assessment. See our guides to filling in the PIP2 form and the challenging a decision if things do not go as expected.