New figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) reveal that assessments for young people moving from Child Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) are becoming significantly harder to pass. The data shows that nearly a quarter of claims are now being turned down, a sharp rise from just two years ago.
In the quarter to October 2025, 24 per cent of Child DLA recipients applying for PIP were refused an award, up from around 11 per cent in 2023. This marks a doubling of the failure rate in just two years, according to the DWP's latest statistics.
Success rates for higher awards fall
The proportion of claimants who saw their award increase when moving from DLA to PIP has also dropped. In the quarter to October 2023, 68.5 per cent of claimants received a higher award under PIP than they had under DLA. By the quarter to October 2025, this figure had fallen to 54.3 per cent.
Additionally, 10.5 per cent of claimants had their award amount unchanged, while six per cent saw their award decreased. The DWP also reported that less than one per cent of claims were disallowed due to the claimant failing to attend their assessment, and six per cent were disallowed because the claimant failed to return part 2 of the PIP form within the time limit.
Transition process for 16-year-olds
Children who currently claim DLA will need to apply for PIP when they turn 16. The DWP will send a letter shortly after the child's 16th birthday, inviting them to apply for PIP by a specified date. The application process for 16-year-olds is the same as for adults, and DLA payments will continue until a decision is made on the PIP claim.
These figures highlight the increasing difficulty young claimants face in securing PIP support, with more than half of all applications now failing to result in a higher award than the previous DLA entitlement.
