Disability Living Allowance
What is it?
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is tax-free cash help towards extra costs faced by disabled people. You can get it if:
- you have a physical or mental disability (or both);
- your disability is severe enough for you to need help with personal care or supervision, or you have difficulties walking (or both) and
- you are aged under 65 when you make your claim.
DLA can be paid for disabled children - see our Disability Living Allowance for children page.
People aged 65 and above with personal care needs may be able to claim Attendance Allowance.
If you are aged over 65 but already receive DLA, you will continue to receive DLA. However, if your condition gets worse, you can ask for the care part of your DLA to be increased to the middle or higher rate. This is the equivalent of Attendance Allowance.
DLA can be paid as well as other state benefits and it does not matter if you have savings or other income. In fact, receiving DLA may increase your entitlement to other benefits such as Income Support, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.
Do I qualify?
To qualify for DLA, you must:
- be aged under 65; and
- satisfy the residence and presence tests, and not be subject to immigration control; and
- have needed help with personal care or supervision or mobility because of your disability for at least 3 months and be likely to need help for the next 6 months; (or you have a terminal illness); and
- meet the conditions for personal care, supervision or mobility below (or you have a terminal illness).
Personal care can include difficulties with:
- washing or bathing
- dressing/undressing
- using the toilet
- eating
- cooking a main meal (e.g. you cannot chop vegetables or carry hot pans)
- using stairs
- getting in/out of bed
- taking medication
- communicating with people, reading mail etc
- you have to undergo renal dialysis on a regular basis and need someone to help with this.
Supervision means that someone should be with you to make sure that you stay safe. For example:
- you have a sight or hearing impediment
- you get confused and might accidentally cause harm to yourself
- you need prompting to look after yourself
- you are at risk of falling, or losing consciousness.
Mobility can include:
- you cannot walk at all
- you can only walk a very short distance before having to stop (for example, because of pain or breathlessness)
- you can walk but need someone with you to guide or supervise you (for example, you are blind, or have learning difficulties).
You may get DLA even if you are not currently getting the help you need.
For an easy way to find out which benefits might apply to you and your circumstances go to What can I claim?
The Benefits Maximisation Service can provide personal advice on what you may be entitled to and help you make a claim. For more information go to Benefits Maximisation Service.
How much is it?
There are two components of DLA: Mobility and Care. You can be paid both components or just one.
There are three rates of the care component of DLA.
Lowest rate £17.75 a week
You may be able to get this if you:
- cannot safely cook a main meal if you had all the ingredients (the cooking test)
- need help with personal care or supervision for a portion of the day (for example, when getting up and going to bed, but not during the day).
Middle rate £44.85 a week
You may be able to get this if you need:
- help with personal care or supervision throughout the day only;
- help with personal care or supervision during the night only; or
- someone with you when you are on dialysis.
Higher rate £67.00 a week
You may be able to get this if:
- You need help with personal care or supervision throughout the day and also during the night; or
- You have a terminal illness.
There are two rates of the mobility component:
Lower rate £17.75 a week
You may be able to get this if you have no problems physically walking but need someone with you when you are outdoors. For example:
- You are blind or partially sighted
- You have learning difficulties
- You have mental health problems.
Highest rate £46.75
You may be able to get this if:
- You cannot walk at all
- You can only walk a very short distance before having to stop (for example because of pain or breathlessness).
How do I apply?
You can get a claim form:
- by phoning the Benefit Enquiry Line on 0800 88 22 00. People with speech or hearing problems using a text phone can dial 0800 24 33 55
- from advice centres like Citizens Advice Bureaus; or
- from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) web site. You should look at the section for 'disabled people and carers'.
You can claim DLA on-line. The on-line service is available at www.dwp.gov.uk. You should look at the section for 'disabled people and carers'. Or, go to www.direct.gov.uk/disability.
It is important that you give as much information as possible about the help you need, even if you do not currently get that help. The Benefits Maximisation Service can help you to complete a claim form.
The decision is made by a Decision Maker at the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP). However, they may write to your doctor or specialist for information. They may also arrange for a doctor to visit you at home to examine you.
Claims for people who are terminally ill should be decided urgently. These claims have "Special Rules". The same claim pack is used but you also have to provide a statement from your doctor, called a DS1500 report, confirming that you have a terminal illness. Benefit should be paid straight away at the higher rate care component. The mobility component may also be paid if you can show you have problems getting around - if this is the case you should also complete the mobility part of the claim pack.
What if I am not satisfied with the decision?
If you are refused benefit or think it should have been paid at a higher rate you can write asking for a revision within one month from the date on the decision. This means that a different Decision Maker will look at your claim again.
It is very important that you reply within one month, as you may not be able to challenge the decision otherwise.
If you are still unsatisfied once the revision has taken place you can ask to have your case heard by an independent appeal tribunal. This usually has to be on a form called a GL24, which is available from any DWP office. You can also ask the DWP to post one to you. Again, you must make your appeal within one month of the date of the revision.
Our Benefit Maximisation Service can help you with revisions and appeals.
What if my circumstances change?
If you feel your health has deteriorated, or you have another condition which means you need more help, you can ask for your benefit to be revised.
Warning - When you ask for a revision the Decision Maker can reconsider the whole claim. This means that you could lose benefit. It is important to get advice before asking for your current benefit to be looked at again. The Benefits Maximisation Service can provide advice and guidance as to the strength of your existing award, and any risks in applying for a higher award.
For an easy way to find out which benefits might apply to you and your circumstances go to What can I claim?
The Benefits Maximisation Service can provide personal advice on what you may be entitled to and help you make a claim. For more information go to Benefits Maximisation Service.
Disclaimer
Although every effort is made to ensure the information on these pages is accurate and up to date, it should not be treated as a complete and authoritative statement of the law.