Disability Benefit Calculator UK
How this calculator works
Maps assessment points to PIP rates: 8–11 points gives the standard component and 12 or more gives enhanced. It is a screening estimate; DWP decides which descriptors apply based on evidence and whether activities can be completed safely, repeatedly, to an acceptable standard and in a reasonable time.
Use the Disability Benefit Calculator to identify the main non-means-tested disability benefit that may apply and estimate its 2026/27 weekly payment. The relevant benefit depends on the claimant’s age, location and how a health condition or disability affects daily living, care or mobility.
The calculator provides guidance rather than a medical or benefit assessment. Personal Independence Payment, Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance are awarded by the responsible benefits authority after considering the applicable legal criteria and supporting evidence.
Which disability benefit may apply?
The appropriate benefit usually depends on the claimant’s age, where they live and whether they are making a new claim or already receive an existing disability benefit.
| Claimant and location | Benefit commonly relevant to a new claim |
|---|---|
| Age 16 to State Pension age in England or Wales | Personal Independence Payment |
| Child under 16 in England or Wales | Disability Living Allowance for children |
| State Pension age or over in England or Wales | Attendance Allowance |
| Adult in Scotland below State Pension age | Adult Disability Payment |
| Child in Scotland | Child Disability Payment |
| Person in Scotland making a pension-age claim | Pension Age Disability Payment |
| Claimant in Northern Ireland | The relevant Northern Ireland disability benefit |
Some adults continue to receive Disability Living Allowance under transitional arrangements. A new adult DLA claim cannot normally be made in England or Wales.
Official guidance on the available support can be found through the GOV.UK disability and sickness benefits overview.
How does the Disability Benefit Calculator work?
The calculator uses the claimant’s age, location and indicative level of daily living, care and mobility needs to show the potentially relevant benefit and payment range.
The calculation may compare the circumstances entered with the broad structure of:
- Personal Independence Payment daily living and mobility components
- Disability Living Allowance care and mobility components
- Attendance Allowance lower and higher rates
- the corresponding Scottish disability payments
A rate calculation is not the same as an eligibility assessment. The official decision considers the precise activities, descriptors, required period, reliability criteria and evidence rather than the diagnosis alone.
What are the PIP rates for 2026/27?
Personal Independence Payment can include a daily living component, a mobility component or both, with standard and enhanced rates for each component.
| PIP component | Standard weekly rate | Enhanced weekly rate |
|---|---|---|
| Daily living | £76.70 | £114.60 |
| Mobility | £30.30 | £80.00 |
The maximum payment where both components are awarded at the enhanced rate is £194.60 a week. PIP is normally paid every four weeks.
| PIP combination | Weekly amount | Four-weekly amount |
|---|---|---|
| Standard daily living only | £76.70 | £306.80 |
| Enhanced daily living only | £114.60 | £458.40 |
| Standard mobility only | £30.30 | £121.20 |
| Enhanced mobility only | £80.00 | £320.00 |
| Standard daily living and standard mobility | £107.00 | £428.00 |
| Enhanced daily living and enhanced mobility | £194.60 | £778.40 |
How is PIP assessed?
PIP is assessed by awarding points for specified daily living and mobility activities according to the help needed and whether each activity can be completed reliably.
The daily living assessment considers activities such as preparing food, eating, managing treatment, washing, dressing, communicating, mixing with other people and managing money.
The mobility assessment covers planning and following journeys and physically moving around. Physical, sensory, cognitive, intellectual and mental health effects can all be relevant where they affect an assessed activity.
| Points for each component | Indicative PIP rate |
|---|---|
| 0 to 7 points | No component indicated |
| 8 to 11 points | Standard rate |
| 12 points or more | Enhanced rate |
Daily living and mobility points are totalled separately. Points from daily living activities cannot be added to mobility points to reach a component threshold.
What does completing an activity reliably mean?
A claimant should generally be able to complete an activity safely, to an acceptable standard, repeatedly and within a reasonable time for it to be treated as completed reliably.
An activity may still attract points where the claimant can sometimes perform it but cannot do so reliably. Relevant factors can include pain, fatigue, breathlessness, anxiety, confusion, risk of injury and the time required.
The assessment should consider whether the claimant needs:
- an aid or appliance
- prompting or encouragement
- supervision for safety
- physical assistance from another person
- help on the majority of days over the relevant period
A calculator cannot decide which legal descriptor applies where the evidence could support more than one interpretation.
Illustrative PIP calculation
In this illustrative example, 10 daily living points and 12 mobility points indicate standard daily living and enhanced mobility, worth £156.70 a week.
Illustrative assumptions: the claimant lives in England, is aged 45, satisfies the residence and required-period conditions, and has functional difficulties that an official assessment ultimately scores at 10 daily living points and 12 mobility points. The example does not assume that any diagnosis automatically produces these scores.
| Calculation stage | Result |
|---|---|
| Daily living score | 10 points |
| Daily living rate indicated | Standard rate at £76.70 a week |
| Mobility score | 12 points |
| Mobility rate indicated | Enhanced rate at £80.00 a week |
| Total illustrative weekly payment | £156.70 |
| Total illustrative four-weekly payment | £626.80 |
| Illustrative 52-week amount | £8,148.40 |
The official award could differ if a decision maker selects different descriptors, finds that a difficulty does not apply on enough days or decides that the required-period or residence conditions are not met.
What are the DLA rates for children in 2026/27?
Disability Living Allowance for children has three care rates and two mobility rates, which can be awarded separately or together.
| DLA component | Rate | Weekly amount |
|---|---|---|
| Care | Lowest | £30.30 |
| Care | Middle | £76.70 |
| Care | Highest | £114.60 |
| Mobility | Lower | £30.30 |
| Mobility | Higher | £80.00 |
DLA for children is based on whether a child needs substantially more care, attention or supervision than a child of the same age without a disability, or has qualifying mobility difficulties.
Age restrictions apply to the mobility components. A child living in Scotland normally applies for Child Disability Payment, while Northern Ireland operates its own DLA claim process.
What are the Attendance Allowance rates for 2026/27?
Attendance Allowance is paid at £76.70 or £114.60 a week depending on whether qualifying help or supervision is needed during the day, at night or across both periods.
| Attendance Allowance rate | Weekly amount | Four-weekly equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Lower rate | £76.70 | £306.80 |
| Higher rate | £114.60 | £458.40 |
Attendance Allowance does not include a mobility component. It can still be awarded where no one currently provides the required help, provided the claimant reasonably needs attention or supervision.
People in Scotland normally claim Pension Age Disability Payment instead. A person who already receives PIP, Adult Disability Payment or DLA when reaching State Pension age may remain on that benefit rather than move automatically to Attendance Allowance.
Are disability benefits means-tested?
PIP, DLA and Attendance Allowance are not means-tested, so earnings, savings and household income do not directly determine their rates.
A claimant can work, have savings or receive a pension without those amounts directly reducing the disability benefit. The award is based primarily on care, daily living or mobility needs.
These disability benefits are also normally tax-free. They should not be confused with income-replacement benefits such as Universal Credit or New Style Employment and Support Allowance, which use different eligibility and payment rules.
How long must the condition affect the claimant?
Most disability benefits require the relevant needs to have existed for a minimum period and to be expected to continue, although special rules apply near the end of life.
For PIP, the functional difficulties must generally satisfy a required-period test covering past and expected future needs. DLA for children and Attendance Allowance use different qualifying periods.
A diagnosis date is not necessarily the start of the qualifying period. The relevant date is usually when the required level of functional difficulty, care or supervision need began.
Special rules can provide a faster process and particular rates where a medical professional confirms that a person may be nearing the end of life.
What applies in Scotland?
Scotland administers Adult Disability Payment, Child Disability Payment and Pension Age Disability Payment instead of new PIP, child DLA and Attendance Allowance claims.
Existing cases have been or are being transferred to Social Security Scotland according to the relevant programme. The Scottish payments broadly cover similar daily living, care and mobility needs but use their own application and review procedures.
A claimant should use the official Social Security Scotland guidance for the benefit appropriate to their age. A rate estimate based on PIP, DLA or Attendance Allowance should not be treated as confirmation of a Scottish award.
How can a disability benefit affect other support?
A disability benefit can increase entitlement to means-tested benefits or allow a carer to claim support, even though the disability payment itself is not means-tested.
An award may affect eligibility for:
- additional Universal Credit amounts
- Pension Credit additions
- Council Tax Reduction
- Housing Benefit premiums in applicable cases
- Carer's Allowance or Carer Support Payment for a qualifying carer
- the Motability Scheme where an eligible mobility component is awarded
- vehicle tax concessions or a Blue Badge, subject to separate conditions
A carer's benefit claim can sometimes cause the disabled person to lose a severe-disability premium or addition. The overall household position should be checked before another person claims a carer payment.
Common disability benefit calculation mistakes
Common mistakes include selecting a benefit by diagnosis alone, combining daily living and mobility points and treating an indicative score as an official assessment.
- Adding PIP daily living and mobility points together.
- Ignoring whether an activity can be completed safely and repeatedly.
- Describing only good days or only the worst day.
- Assuming the claimant must already receive physical help.
- Using adult PIP rules for a child under 16.
- Expecting Attendance Allowance to include mobility support.
- Entering Scottish circumstances under the England and Wales claim route.
- Assuming earnings or savings prevent a PIP, DLA or Attendance Allowance award.
- Treating an existing adult DLA award as a new DLA claim.
- Leaving out mental health, cognitive, sensory or fluctuating effects.
What are the calculator's limitations?
The calculator can estimate a possible benefit and rate but cannot determine the descriptors, evidence or legal findings that an official assessment will accept.
The estimate may not fully account for fluctuating conditions, the required-period rules, residence abroad, immigration status, hospital or care-home stays, special rules near the end of life, existing transitional awards or changes after State Pension age.
It does not diagnose a condition, complete a claim or replace supporting evidence from the claimant, carers, medical professionals and other people familiar with the claimant’s functional needs.
Current rates are established under social security legislation and administered by the responsible UK or devolved authority. Announced proposals should not be treated as current law unless and until they are enacted and brought into force.
This calculator provides estimates only. Health conditions, functional effects, evidence, assessment decisions, circumstances and related reliefs differ, and the official benefit award may not match the result shown; professional welfare-rights advice may be appropriate when making or challenging a claim.