Disability, sickness and carer benefits

If you have a disability or long-term illness, or you’re caring for someone who does, you may be able to claim certain benefits. This guide provides an overview of what benefits are available and how to make a claim.

Disability living allowance for children

This is a tax-free benefit for under 16s to help with the costs of a long-term illness or disability. Check if you qualify on the government website.

To apply, print off and fill in the DLA claim form. Or phone the DLA helpline and ask them to send you a form:

Telephone: 0800 121 4600

Textphone: 0800 121 4523

Find out about call charges.

Disability living allowance for adults

Personal independence payment (PIP) and adult disability payment is slowly replacing DLA for adults with long-term health problems or disabilities. If you’re a pensioner, you can apply for attendance allowance instead.

If you already get DLA, you’ll get a letter telling you when you’ll need to switch to PIP or adult disability payment.

Personal independence payment

PIP is a tax-free benefit for over-16s who haven’t reached state pension age. It’s designed to help with the extra costs of having a long-term health problem or a disability.

Check if you qualify on the government website.

To apply, ring:

Telephone: 0800 917 2222

Textphone: 0800 917 7777

Find out about call charges.

You’ll need:

your contact details
your date of birth
your national insurance number
your bank or building society account number and sort code
the name, address and phone number of your doctor or health worker
dates of any time spent in a care home or hospital
addresses of any care homes or hospitals you’ve spent time in
dates of time spent abroad that lasted four weeks or more, and the countries you went to

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Attendance allowance

This is a tax-free benefit for people who:

have reached state pension age
have a disability
need someone to help look after them

Check if you qualify on the government website.

To apply, print and fill in the attendance allowance claim form. Or phone the helpline and ask them to send you a form:

Telephone: 0800 731 0122

Textphone: 0800 731 0317

Find out about call charges.

Employment and support allowance

You may be able to get this if you can’t work because of an illness or a disability.

Check if you qualify and apply on the government website.

You’ll need:

your national insurance number
your bank or building society account number and sort code
the name, address and phone number of your doctor
a fit note
details of your income (if you’re working)
the date your statutory sick pay ends (if you’re claiming it)

Carer’s allowance

This provides extra money to help you look after someone with significant caring needs.

Check if you qualify and apply on the government website.

You’ll need:

your national insurance number
your bank or building society account number and sort code
employment details and most recent payslip (if you’re working)
P45 (if you’ve recently finished work)
course information (if you’re studying)
details of any expenses e.g. the cost of caring for the disabled/ill person while you’re at work
the date of birth and address of the person you care for
the national insurance number of the person you care for (if they’re over 16)
the DLA reference of the person you care for (if they’re under 16)