PIP vs DLA vs ADP (Scotland) vs Attendance Allowance

There is no single UK disability benefit. Which one applies depends on two things you cannot choose — your age and which nation you live in. Children are covered by DLA. Working-age adults claim PIP in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, or Adult Disability Payment in Scotland. People over State Pension age claim Attendance Allowance. None of them is means-tested and none needs a National Insurance record, but the assessment processes and appeal routes differ. This comparison shows which applies to you.

Tip: scroll the table sideways to see all columns →

Feature	PIP (E/W/NI)	DLA (children)	ADP (Scotland)	Attendance Allowance
Age range	16 to State Pension age	Under 16	16 to State Pension age (Scotland)	State Pension age and over
Country	England, Wales, NI	UK-wide for children	Scotland only	UK-wide
Means tested
NI contributions required
Components	Daily living + Mobility	Care + Mobility	Daily living + Mobility (PIP-aligned)	Care only (lower/higher)
Weekly rates 2026-27 (highest)	£114.60 daily living + £80.00 mobility	£114.60 care + £80.00 mobility	£114.60 daily living + £80.00 mobility	£114.60 (higher rate)
Medical assessment		Children — case-management	Yes (but more humane process)	Usually paper-based
Passport to other benefits	Carer's Allowance, blue badge, free bus pass	Carer's Allowance, child elements of UC	Carer Support Payment (Scotland), blue badge	Carer's Allowance, council tax reduction

In Scotland, ADP has fully replaced PIP for working-age claimants since 2022. Existing PIP claimants in Scotland were transferred automatically. DLA continues for under-16s only; adult DLA claimants moved to PIP/ADP between 2013 and 2018.

Finding the one that applies to you

Two questions settle it. How old is the person claiming, and do they live in Scotland? Under 16 anywhere in the UK, it is DLA for children. Aged 16 to State Pension age in Scotland, it is Adult Disability Payment, administered by Social Security Scotland. Aged 16 to State Pension age elsewhere, it is PIP, administered by the Department for Work and Pensions. At or above State Pension age, new claims go to Attendance Allowance wherever you live.

Turning 16 on a child DLA award? You will be invited to claim the adult benefit. Do not ignore the letter — the existing award ends whether or not you respond.
Moving between Scotland and the rest of the UK? Tell the paying agency straight away. Transfers are handled between them and payment should continue during the change.
Approaching State Pension age? Claim the working-age benefit while you still can. Attendance Allowance has no mobility component.

The common mistake is assuming a diagnosis decides the outcome. All four benefits assess how a condition affects daily activities, not what it is called, so two people with the same condition can receive very different awards. Describe a typical bad day, how long tasks take, whether you can repeat them safely, and what help you rely on.

Remember these benefits open other doors — a carer's benefit, a Blue Badge, extra amounts in means-tested awards — so an award is often worth more than the payment itself.

Frequently asked questions

What happens to my award if I move to or from Scotland?

Your existing award does not simply stop. The agencies notify each other, and in most cases the receiving nation opens a claim without requiring a fresh assessment, so payments continue while the transfer is processed. Tell whichever agency pays you as soon as you know the moving date, and keep a note of the call reference. Problems usually arise from delayed notification rather than the transfer itself, so do not wait until after the move to report it.

What happens when my child turns 16?

Child DLA does not continue into adulthood. Shortly before the sixteenth birthday you will be contacted about claiming the relevant adult benefit, and the process starts again with an adult assessment that looks at different activities. Do not assume the award will carry across at the same rate, because the criteria genuinely differ. This is also the point to think about capacity and appointeeship, since the young person becomes the claimant in their own right unless arrangements are made.

Will an award affect my other benefits or my tax?

Only in your favour, in almost all cases. None of these benefits is taxable and none counts as income for means-tested benefits. An award frequently increases what you receive elsewhere, by adding disability elements to Universal Credit, increasing Pension Credit, or reducing council tax. It can also make someone caring for you eligible for a carer's benefit. If your award changes, tell the offices paying your other benefits so those increases are actually applied.

How long does an award last?

Awards are usually made for a fixed period with a review date, and the length reflects how likely your needs are to change. Some are short, some run for a decade, and some carry lighter-touch reviews. You should be contacted before an award ends, but do not rely on that — note the end date yourself and start the renewal in good time, because payments can stop if a review is not completed. Report significant changes as they happen rather than saving them for the review.

Related guides

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a non-means-tested, tax-free benefit for people aged 16 to 64 who have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability that affects their ability to carry out daily activities or get around. It is not based on your diagnosis but on how your condition affects you day to day.

14 min

Disability Living Allowance for Children

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children is a tax-free benefit for children under 16 who have a physical or mental disability and need more care, supervision, or help with mobility than a child of the same age without the disability would normally need. It is not means-tested and can be paid on top of other benefits, making it an important source of additional support for families.

10 min

Attendance Allowance

Attendance Allowance is a tax-free, non-means-tested benefit for people over State Pension age who have a disability or illness and need help with personal care or supervision. Around 1.7 million people in Great Britain receive it, but many more are eligible and do not claim. If you are under State Pension age, the equivalent benefit is Personal Independence Payment.

12 min

Work Capability Assessment Reform: The Pathways to Work Changes

The Work Capability Assessment determines whether a disabled or sick claimant has 'limited capability for work' (LCW) or 'limited capability for work-related activity' (LCWRA). The 2024 government Pathways to Work green paper proposed major changes — tightened descriptors, new conditionality, and eventual merger of the LCWRA element with PIP. Some changes are now in force; others are paused pending review. This guide explains the current state and what to expect.

10 min

Disclaimer

The information on this page was correct at the time of writing. Amounts, thresholds, and rules may change. Always check the latest official guidance.