Under the DWP benefits system for England and Wales, children receiving Disability Living Allowance (DLA) must transition to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) once they turn 16 - but it’s not automatic. The process begins months earlier, when the DWP invites a parent or guardian to become the young person’s official ‘appointee’. Alongside PIP, there’s also the option to apply for credits-only ESA and even to get LCWRA established, adding more layers to the journey.
This blog is a living diary of our experience navigating Andrew’s transition. It may span many months, and I’ll be updating it as we go - one step, one date, one decision at a time.
What follows is a continuation of our 2025 entries, which you can find on: Our Journey from DLA to PIP: A Living Diary 2025.
10 Jan 2026 - Having heard nothing from whichever company now carries out PIP assessments, no phone call, no invitation to an actual meeting, it was a surprise to receive a letter from the DWP to say that they now have "all the information they need to made a decision". So we wait to see what that decisions might be.
Jan 2026 - In the meantime, it has been four weeks since the phone call to say that Andrew has been awarded credits-only ESA but we haven't received a letter to confirm this. We seemed to jump straight to the Capability for Work Questionnaire. I must telephone and chase up the paperwork as regards the ESA confirmation.
29 Jan 2026 - I found the confirmation letter for credits-only ESA, I had mis-filed it over Christmas (amongst the PIP paperwork!)
29 Jan 2026 - I think I mentioned in the 2025 blog that I'm not a patient person? LOL. I telephoned the PIP information line. After security questions, the automated system said that Andrew is due a payment of £x in March. So I held out for a human being (15 minutes total call wait) and, yes, a decision has been made - the letter went in the post on 22nd, call back in another week if we don't receive it.
Dropping the payment figure into AI, it works out that Andrew has been awarded Enhanced Daily Living and presumably also Enhanced Mobility (as there was no figure that corresponded to only being awarded Standard Mobility). Good news!!
BUT - something I didn't realise - he will receive no payment in February because they have aligned the payment dates to the same 4weekly cycle as DLA, and apparently DLA is paid in advance, whereas PIP is paid in arrears. We can cope, others might struggle to have a month without payment.
30 Jan 2026 - The PIP award letter arrived the day after my phone call, confirming the Enhanced award for both Daily Living and Mobility. In terms of points awarded, he totalled 54 for Daily Living and the expected 12 (planning a journey) for Mobility. The award is described as "ongoing" which I believe is their current terminology for light-touch renewals.
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