Benefits if you have a disability or advanced cancer

People with a disability or advanced cancer may need extra help with their finances. Your illness might affect your ability to work. You can get financial support to help with daily costs.

Each benefit has its own rules or eligibility criteria. We have information on where to get more help and advice.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) can help you with extra costs. It's for people who have a disability or long term physical or mental health condition.

You can get PIP if you:

• are between 16 and the State Pension age

• have a long term physical or mental health condition or disability

• have had difficulties with daily living or moving around

• expect the difficulties to last for at least 12 months from when they started

Read more about what is meant by a disability

If you live in Scotland, you need to apply for Adult Disability Payment (ADP), instead.

Adult Disability Payment is extra money to help you if you have a disability or long term health condition that affects your everyday life.

Read more about Adult Disability Payment

For these payments you also need to:

• have lived in England, Scotland or Wales for at least 2 of the last 3 years

• live in one of these countries when you apply

If you've recently come back from living in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, you might get PIP sooner.

If you’ve reached State Pension Age, you can apply for Attendance Allowance instead. Or Pension Age Disability Payment if you live in Scotland.

You can't get PIP and Armed Forces Independence Payment together.

Read more about Armed Forces Independence Payment

Applying for PIP in Northern Ireland

In Northern Ireland the criteria to qualify for PIP are slightly different. You may get Personal Independence Payment if the following apply to you:

• you are aged 16 or over

• you have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability

• you have difficulties doing certain everyday tasks or getting around

• you have had these difficulties for at least three months and expect them to last for at least another nine months

• you live in Northern Ireland

• you are under State Pension age

Read more about PIP in Northern Ireland

The process of getting PIP is usually much quicker if you are nearing the end of your life. You can claim PIP if you are 16 years or older. And your doctor or a medical professional thinks that you might have less than 12 months to live.

Read more about Personal Independence Payment (PIP) on the Government website

Attendance Allowance

Attendance Allowance is a payment that helps with extra costs when you have a disability or a health condition. It has to be severe enough that you need someone to help look after you. It's for people of State Pension age or older.

You need to:

• have a physical disability, a mental disability, or a health condition

• have a disability or health condition severe enough for you to need someone to help look after you or supervise you to make sure you are safe

• be in need of help for at least 6 months (unless you’re terminally ill)

You don’t need a carer in order to qualify. If you do have a carer, they can apply for Carers Allowance depending on how much care you need.

Read more about Attendance Allowance on the Government website

Pension Age Disability Payment in Scotland

In Scotland, a benefit called Pension Age Disability Payment is replacing Attendance Allowance.

Read about Pension Age Disability Payment in Scotland

Universal Credit

Universal Credit helps with your living costs. You may be able to get it if you’re on a low income, out of work, or you cannot work and:

• you live in the UK

• you’re aged 18 or over

• you are under State Pension age, or you have a partner who is

• you have a low income and £16,000 or less in money, savings, and investments.

Go to the government website to read more about universal credit

Special rules

If a medical professional has said you might have 12 months or less to live, you may be able to get the following benefits more quickly and at a higher rate. You may hear this called special rules for end of life. The medical professional has to complete a form called an SR1.

Benefits include:

• Attendance Allowance

• New Style Employment and Support Allowance

• Personal Independence Payment

• Universal Credit

Read more about special rules on the government website

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for adults

Disability living allowance (DLA) is a payment for people who have mobility problems or need personal care. You can no longer make a new application for DLA if you are 16 or over. Instead, you need to apply for:

• Personal Independence Payment (PIP) if you are under state pension age and live in England or Wales

• Attendance Allowance if you are over state pension age

For people born on or before 8 April 1948, DLA will continue for as long as they qualify for it. For people born after 8 April 1948, DLA will end. You will be told when it will stop and what you can apply for. You will continue to get DLA until that date.

Read more about Disability Living Allowance and the changes for adults on the Government website

You can apply for DLA for children under 16 living in England or Wales. If you live in Scotland, you can apply for Child Disability Payment.

Read more about DLA for children on the Government website

Read more about Child Disability Payment in Scotland

Applying for Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance

Claims for DLA have been moved to Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance.

Find out about Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB)

Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit is a payment that can help you with costs if your job caused you to have a disease or accident. An example of a cancer that can be caused by certain jobs is mesothelioma, which can be caused by asbestos.

Accidents

To get Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, you need to have been involved in an accident or event while you:

• were employed

• were taking part in an approved work training scheme or course

• were in England, Scotland or Wales

There might be some exceptions. Contact your regional Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit Centre for more information.

In Northern Ireland, the process is slightly different.

Read about Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit in Northern Ireland

Diseases

To get Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB), your disease must have been caused by:

• the job you were employed in

• an approved employment training scheme or course you were doing

Read more about Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) on the Government website

You might be able to get help with the costs of travelling, parking, prescriptions, wigs, or special equipment.

Read more about information on health costs