How to claim Disability Living Allowance
To ask for
Disability Living Allowance
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is the name of a benefit that some people with a disability get. The money is to pay for extra help you might need to look after yourself and to get around. Disability Living Allowance is being replaced by a benefit called
Personal Independence Payment
Personal
Independence
Independence means doing things on your own. Making your own choices.
Payment (PIP) is the name of a benefit that some people with a disability or health condition get. The money is to pay for extra help you might need to look after yourself and to get around. Some people who used to get Disability Living Allowance (DLA) now get PIP instead.
(PIP).
you need to get an
application form
An application form is a form you have to fill in to try to get something.
.
You can get a DLA application form from:
- by contacting the Disability Living Allowance Helpline by phoning: 0800 121 4600.
- Textphone: 0800 121 4523
- Relay UK: 18001 then 0800 121 4600
This page tells you what you need to do to apply for DLA...
Step 1: Check if you are eligible for Disability Living Allowance
To get DLA for children in England and Wales the child must:
- be under 16
- have a health condition or disability
- have needed extra help, or found it difficult to move around for at least three months, and you think their difficulties will last for at least another six months.
Some adults still get DLA although new DLA claims for people aged 16 or over are no longer supported. They should look at claiming Personal Independence Payments (PIP) or Attendance Allowance instead.
There are differences to DLA if you live in other parts of the UK. For information visit:
- DLA for children in Northern Ireland.
- or if the child lives in Scotland go to: Child Disability Payment.
Step 2: Make sure you have the right information to hand
You will need to know the child's:
- full name, address and telephone number
- date of birth
-
National Insurance
National Insurance is a type of
tax
Tax is the money that pays for things like schools, hospitals and the police. There are different types of taxes like
income tax
Income tax is the money that is taken out of the money you earn every month. It helps to pay for things we all need like hospitals and schools.
,
VAT
VAT is also called Value Added Tax. VAT is the extra money you pay when you buy things. The money goes to
the government
The Government are the people who run the country. The Government decide how much tax people should pay and how things like the National Health Service (NHS) should work.
to pay for things like schools and hospitals.
and
council tax
Council
A council is also called a
local authority
A local authority is also called a council. They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live like schools,
social care
Social care means the services that give care and support to people who need it.
(support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
. They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live. These include: schools, social care (support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
Tax is the money that people pay to the
council
A council is also called a
local authority
A local authority is also called a council. They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live like schools,
social care
Social care means the services that give care and support to people who need it.
(support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
. They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live. These include: schools, social care (support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
. It helps to pay for things like social care (support for people), parks and dustbin collection.
.
. It is money that is taken out of the money you earn each month. You pay National Insurance so that you can get a
pension
A pension is money you get when you are older to pay for the things you need. You can pay money into your pension when you are working so there is more money for when you are older.
when you are older.
number if they have one - nationality (eg: English)
- passport number if they have one
- dates and addresses when they lived outside either England or Wales
- dates when they went abroad over the last 3 years
- dates and addresses when they were in a hospital or residential school
- dates of any treatment or tests
- health professional's full name
- current medication list
You will also need to provide your bank or building society account number and sort code.
Step 3: Get someone to help you with the form if you want
You can ask a relative, friend or someone at an advice centre to help you fill out the DLA application form but you must sign the form yourself, if you can.
If you would like braille, British Sign Language, email, a hearing loop, translations, large print, audio or something else to help you complete the application form please call
the Department for Work and Pensions
The Department for Work and Pensions is sometimes called the DWP. It is part of the government and manages payments and benefits like Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment,
Employment
Employment means having a job.
and Support Allowance, and Income Support.
(DWP) on 0800 121 4600 or textphone 0800 121 4523 to tell them what you need.
Step 4: Fill in the DLA form
It is a good idea to take your time to complete the DLA form but there is a deadline for it to be with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Visit the Scope website for details about the deadline.
When completing the form you should:
- Use black ink.
- Send copies of any supporting information with your form - do not send any original documents.
- Read the questions carefully - not all questions will apply to the child.
- Take a copy or pictures of the completed form, if you can, before you send it to the DWP.
The DWP have created a help guide which, from page 8, helps explain the more complex questions on the Disability Living Allowance application form.
Once you have completed the application form, send it to: Freepost DWP DLA Child
- You do not need to add a postcode or a stamp.
If you received a paper form from the DWP you can use the envelope, which came with the application form, to return it in.
Step 5: Getting your DLA decision
After you’ve applied, you’ll get a letter from the DWP within 3 weeks that explains how long it will take them to make a decision about your claim.
To reach their decision they may contact your child's health professionals or other organisations for more information.
If your claim is successful, DLA will usually be paid every 4 weeks on a Tuesday.
If your payment date falls on a bank holiday, you will usually be paid before the bank holiday. After that you’ll continue to get paid as normal.
Any benefits, pensions and allowances are paid into your bank, building society or credit union account.
Step 6: Unsuccessful DLA applications
If your application is unsuccessful, you have the right of
appeal
To appeal means saying you want someone to think about a decision again.
.
For Disability Living Allowance the appeal process starts with a request for a '
mandatory
Mandatory means that something must be done.
reconsideration' and can be further appealed to the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal. For more information about a mandatory reconsideration visit the government website.
If you need help with the mandatory reconsideration process you can contact our
Learning Disability
A learning disability is to do with the way someone's brain works. It makes it harder for someone to learn, understand or do things.
Helpline.
Frequently asked questions about DLA applications
How do I get a DLA claim form?
You can:
- download a DLA for children claim form from the UK government’s website
- contact the Disability Living Allowance helpline for a form by:
phone: 0800 121 4600
textphone: 0800 121 4523
Relay UK: 18001 then 0800 121 4600
Can I backdate my DLA claim?
No, your claim will start on the date the form is received or the date you call the Disability Living Allowance helpline (if you return the claim pack within 6 weeks).
I have completed the claim form but am waiting for some reports or letters to send with my application. What should I do?
If you have completed the form, you can send it off and send the additional evidence later. You should say what information you are waiting for in the box for question 89.
When you receive the additional information, send it to: Freepost DWP DLA Child
Write the child’s full name, date of birth and National Insurance number (if they have one) at the top of each page of evidence so it can be linked to the claim.
What things count as aids or adaptations?
Aids are things like:
- braces
- supports
- crutches
- buggies
- wheelchairs
- commodes
- reading and learning aids such as computer programmes.
Adaptations are things like:
- ramps
- slopes
- rails
- alterations to the home, such as widened doorways.
You should include any aid or adaptation the child can use with or without help.
How do I write about when the child needs help?
Before you write the answer to the question ‘When the child needs help’ you might find it useful to keep a record of the help the child needs for a day or for a few days. This could include details about:
- what you help the child with
- how you help them
- how long you help them with each thing
- their behaviour
- how they felt
- if it was a good or bad day.
You can use the information to help you to answer the question.
What extra information should I include for question 72 of the DLA form?
Question 72 gives you the opportunity to include more information which may help with your DLA claim. Examples about what you might want to include can be found in the DWP’s help guide on pages 11-25.
The information on this page is for guidance only. Mencap hold no responsibility for DWP processes, timescales, decisions and service.