Benefits and finance for those with SEND

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:

  1. a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability
  2. difficulty doing certain everyday tasks or getting around because of your condition

You can learn to drive a car when you are 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 aged 3 or over and receive a Personal Independence Payment because you can't walk more than 50 metres (a score of 8 points or more under the `moving around` activity of the mobility component) or if you receive the mobility component of PIP and have obtained 10 points specfically for descriptor E under the `planning and following jouneys` activity, on the grounds that you are unable to undertake any journey because it would cause you overwhelming psychological distress.

Please also see information about vehicle tax exemption and reduction or watch video's with British Sign Language.

You may be eligible for a disabled person's bus pass if you receive PIP. Information about disabled person's bus pass eligibility.

Find out more about Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

Watch PIP video guides with British Sign Language.

Employment and support allowance (ESA)

You may get employment and support allowance (ESA) if your illness or disability affects your ability to work.

Find out more about employment and support allowance (ESA)

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Working tax credit has been replaced by universal credit.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 Disabled Students' Allowances to cover some of the extra costs of study because of a mental health problem, long term illness or any other disability.

Find out more and apply.

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.

Find out how to apply for student finance and what you are eligible for.

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 Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) to help you 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 an amount of money to help children and young people with SEN and/or disabilities. Find out more about personal budgets and direct payments here.

Childcare funding

There are many funding schemes 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 an individual 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.

Find out more about becoming an appointee for someone claiming benefits.