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1) Finance and Benefits: Disability Living Allowance, Direct Payments and Appointeeship - Transition Guide

There are some important changes to benefits when young people turn 16:

  • DLA (Disability Living Allowance) will finish at 16.  You will then need to apply for PIP (Personal Independence Payment).
  • the DWP will normally write to you are 15 years and seven months old. They will explain what will happen.  They will check if you have the mental capacity to manage your own benefit claims.  They will check if you will need an appointee to act on your behalf.
  • the DWP will follow this up with a second letter 3 months later.
  • the DWP will contact you shortly after your 16th birthday to ask you to claim PIP.

It is important to be aware that PIP is scored differently to DLA and the level may change. Contact have published a useful guide about claiming PIP. You can download it by clicking on the logo below.

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On turning 16, you are able to claim benefits like Universal Credit in your own right. If you stay in full-time non-advanced education or in types of training, parents can choose to carry on claiming for you as part of your family. (Non-advanced education includes GCSEs, A-levels, BTECs, NVQ levels 1-3)

You will need to think about which option is likely to leave your family better off. You can get help from Contact’s Benefits Advisers (0808 808 3555) or Citizen’s Advice Sheffield (03444 113 111).

Direct payments

Young people aged 16+ are also able to receive direct payments in their own right.  This is rather than this being managed by your parents or carers.  This is only if you receive direct payments.

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Appointeeship

When you turn 16 you are usually expected to take on responsibility for any benefits you claim. If you are unable to manage your affairs, your parent/carer can become your ‘appointee’ for benefit claims.

Becoming an appointee means that your parents/carers are responsible for:

  • making any claims
  • giving any information needed
  • advising any changes that may affect your entitlement to benefits.

The benefits will be paid to your parent/carer on your behalf. It is important that they open a separate bank account for your benefits. Becoming an appointee for benefit reasons doesn’t mean they have any rights to deal with your other affairs. Click the logo below to find out more.

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If you don't have family who can act as an appointee

If you are unable to manage your own finances, then the local authority can arrange an independent financial appointee.  This is to help you manage your money.

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In this section

  1. Introduction to the Transition Guide
  2. Preparing for Adulthood
  3. Sheffield's Local Offer
  4. What happens and when - Early Years (age 0-4)
  5. What happens and when - Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 (age 5-7)
  6. What happens and when - Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6 (age 7-11)
  7. What happens and when - Year 7 and Year 8 (age 11-13)
  8. What happens and when - Year 9 (age 13-14)
  9. What happens and when - Year 10 (age 14-15)
  10. What happens and when - Year 11 (Age 15-16)
  11. What happens and when - Year 12 (age 16-17)
  12. What happens and when - Years 13 and 14 (Age 17-19)
  13. What happens and when - Age 19-25
  14. Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plans - Transition Guide
  15. Education, Employment and Training - GCSEs and Help in Exams - Transition Guide
  16. Post 16 Education - Transition Guide
  17. A Guide to Qualifications at 16+ - Transition Guide
  18. Apprenticeships and Supported Internships - Transition Guide
  19. Things to do when not in college - Transition Guide
  20. University and Higher Education - Transition Guide
  21. Careers Advice - Transition Guide
  22. 1) Help with finding and keeping a job - Transition Guide
  23. 2) Help with finding and keeping a job - Transition Guide
  24. 3) Help with finding and keeping a job - Transition Guide
  25. Leisure - Transition Guide
  26. SEN Transport - Transition Guide
  27. Independent Travel Training
  28. Other Travel Support and useful Apps - Transition Guide
  29. Social Care Services - Transition Guide
  30. Moving from Children’s to Adult Social Care Services - Transition Guide
  31. Paying for adult social care - Transition Guide
  32. Getting a carer’s assessment for your parent/carer - Transition Guide
  33. Short Break Services - Transition Guide
  34. Direct payments for social care services - Transition Guide
  35. Housing - Transition Guide
  36. Decision making and mental capacity - Transition Guide
  37. Transitioning from Children’s Health to Adult Health Services - Transition Guide
  38. Annual Health Checks for people with a learning disability - Transition Guide
  39. Important Local NHS Health Services - Transition Guide
  40. Mental Health Services - Transition Guide
  41. 1) Finance and Benefits: Disability Living Allowance, Direct Payments and Appointeeship - Transition Guide
  42. 2) Finance and Benefits: Universal Credit - Transition Guide
  43. 3) Finance and Benefits: 16 to 19 Bursary Fund - Transition Guide
  44. 4) Finance and Benefits: Banking, Wills and Trusts and Child Benefit - Transition Guide
  45. Further help and support - Transition guide