PIP and DLA After Death: What Happens to Disability Benefits

When someone who was receiving PIP or DLA dies, there are several important steps to take with DWP. Benefits must be stopped, any overpaid amounts returned, and — importantly — any money owed to the deceased claimed back for the estate. If the deceased was using a Motability vehicle, there are separate steps to follow. This guide covers each of these areas.

Stopping PIP and DLA: notifying DWP

PIP and DLA cease from the date of death. It is important to notify DWP as quickly as possible to prevent further payments being made that will subsequently need to be recovered.

How to notify DWP:

• Tell Us Once:The simplest route — available at the register office when you register the death, or online afterwards. Tell Us Once notifies DWP's PIP and DLA teams simultaneously with other departments
• PIP enquiry line: Call 0800 121 4433 (textphone 0800 121 4493) — Monday to Friday 9am-5pm
• DLA helpline: Call 0800 121 4600 — the same hours apply
• You will need the deceased's National Insurance number, date of birth, and date of death

Once DWP is notified, they will suspend payments and begin the process of recovering any overpayment and calculating whether any arrears are owed.

Arrears: money the estate may be owed

It is not uncommon for DWP to owe money to the estate of a deceased PIP or DLA claimant. This can happen in several situations:

• Outstanding payments: If the deceased died partway through a payment cycle, DWP will owe a pro-rated amount up to and including the date of death
• Unpaid arrears from a previous underpayment: If DWP underpaid PIP or DLA at any point — for example, because a review reduced payments when they should not have been reduced, and the claimant had appealed or planned to appeal — those arrears are payable to the estate
• Successful appeal after death: If a tribunal allows an appeal that was in progress at the time of death, any additional amounts due as a result are payable to the estate

To claim arrears, the executor or administrator of the estate should write to DWP requesting a full account of payments made and any amounts outstanding. DWP has a duty to account to the estate for all sums due.

The Special Rules for End of Life (SREL) and the estate

The Special Rules for End of Life (SREL, formerly known as the Special Rules for Terminal Illness or SR1 rules) allow people with a terminal diagnosis to receive PIP at the enhanced rates for both components without needing to meet the standard assessment criteria.

If the deceased was claiming PIP under SREL shortly before death:

• They would have been receiving PIP at the enhanced daily living and mobility rates
• Any underpaid amounts between when SREL should have begun and when it actually started are recoverable by the estate
• If the SREL claim was made close to death and the higher rate had not yet been paid, the estate should contact DWP to ensure all amounts due under the SREL assessment are paid

Carer's Allowance: what happens to the carer

If someone was receiving Carer's Allowance for looking after the deceased, their Carer's Allowance will stop automatically from the date the person they cared for died. However, the carer must still notify DWP.

The carer should:

• Notify the Carer's Allowance Unit by calling 0800 731 0297 — they can also be notified through Tell Us Once if the carer uses the service
• Check whether any Carer's Allowance has been paid for periods after the death — if so, this will need to be returned
• Investigate whether they are entitled to Bereavement Support Payment if their cared-for person was also their spouse, civil partner, or cohabiting partner
• Review their Universal Credit entitlement: if the carer was receiving a UC carer element, this will also stop — their UC claim should be updated to reflect their changed circumstances

The Motability Scheme: what happens to the vehicle

The Motability Scheme allows PIP Enhanced Mobility component recipients to lease a car, scooter, or powered wheelchair. If the deceased was in the Motability Scheme, the following applies:

• The lease ends from the date of death: Motability must be notified — call 0300 456 4566
• Vehicle return: The vehicle must normally be returned within a set period, typically within two weeks of notification. Motability will arrange collection
• Advance Payment refund: If the deceased made an Advance Payment (a lump sum paid at the start of the lease to reduce monthly payments), a pro-rated refund of the unused portion is payable to the estate. Motability will calculate and pay this automatically
• Good condition bonus: If the vehicle is returned in good condition, the estate may also receive a Good Condition Bonus from Motability