Introduction Background
4.The Government announced, as part of the June 2010 Budget, its intention to reform DLA with effect from 2013-14. Proposals for replacing DLA with a new PIP formed part of the consultation on welfare reform, and PIP was introduced in Part 4 of the Welfare Reform Act 2012.
5.The purpose of the benefit is to contribute to the extra costs faced by long-term disabled people to leading full and active lives.
6.Tax relief for employer-supported childcare is available as long as certain conditions are met. Normally the age criterion for a child is until the first week of the September following their 15th birthday. However, for disabled children that is extended to the first week of the September following their 16th birthday.
7.Definitions for qualifying disabled children include being in receipt of DLA which now needs to be extended to children in receipt of PIP to ensure consistency of treatment in line with welfare reforms.
8.PIP will initially be phased in for new applicants; therefore for disabled children the reference to both DLA and PIP is required until such time as DLA is replaced completely.