Benefits and finance support for young people with SEND aged 16 and over
Personal independence payment (PIP)
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) can help with extra living costs if you have both:
- a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability
- difficulty doing certain every-day tasks or getting around because of your condition
You can learn to drive a car at 16 if you get, or have applied for, the enhanced rate of the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment.
You automatically qualify for a Blue Badge if you:
- are 3 or over and get PIP because you can't walk more than 50 metres (8 points or more under the `moving around` activity of the mobility component) or;
- if you get the mobility component of PIP and have obtained 10 points for descriptor E under the `planning and following journeys` activity, on the grounds that you are unable to undertake any journey because it would cause you overwhelming psychological distress.
Information about vehicle tax exemption and reduction.
Watch video's with British Sign Language.
You may be eligible for a disabled person's bus pass if you get PIP. Information about disabled person's bus pass.
Find out more about Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
Watch PIP video guides with British Sign Language.
Employment and support allowance (ESA)
You may get ESA if your illness or disability affects your ability to work.
Working tax credit
Working tax credit has been replaced by universal credit.
You can still make a new claim for working tax credit if you get the severe disability premium.
Find out more about working tax credit.
Disabled students' allowances (DSAs)
Undergraduate or postgraduate students can apply for DSAs to cover some of the extra costs of study due to:
- a mental health problem
- long term illness
- any other disability
Student finance
Student finance lets you borrow money to help pay for University or college. Some students can get a grant if they are disabled.
Access to work
This grant is for people with a disability, health or mental health condition. It can help support you to:
- start working
- stay in work
- move into self-employment or start a business
Find out more about the access to work grant.
Watch access to work video guides with British Sign Language.
Jobseeker's allowance (JSA)
You may be able to apply for JSA when you're looking for work.
Find out more about Jobseeker's Allowance.
Housing Benefit/Universal Credit
Find out more about housing benefit and universal credit.
Personal budgets
A personal budget is a sum of money to help children and young people with SEND. Find out more about personal budgets and direct payments.
Childcare funding
There is funding available to help towards the cost of childcare. You could be eligible for support for children up to 17 years.
Find out about childcare funding.
Help for those who lack mental capacity
If someone lacks the mental capacity to manage their own financial affairs or if they are severely disabled, someone else may be able to review and manage their benefits for them by acting as their appointee.