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This page is :  > Money  > Benefits & grants
Untitled Document
Disability Living Allowance

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is a tax-free benefit for children and adults who need help with personal care or have walking difficulties because they are physically or mentally disabled.

Who's it for?

For people who need help with personal care, getting around, or both because they are ill or disabled. Normally help must have been needed for at least three months and is likely to be needed for at least a further six. DLA is restricted to those under the age of 65. (If you are over 65, you may be able to get Attendance Allowance instead.)

What do you get?

This benefit is in two parts: a care component and a mobility component.
  • The care component is paid to you if you need attention from a carer. To qualify, you will need help to perform basic bodily functions such as eating and washing, or supervision to avoid danger. The care component is paid at three rates. The top rate is for those who need supervision both day AND night. The middle rate is for those who need help either day OR night. The lowest rate is for those who need help only for a PART of the day or who cannot prepare their own meals.

  • The mobility component is paid to you if you have trouble getting around or if you need to be accompanied outside. The mobility component will be paid to you if you cannot walk, if you are deaf or blind, or if you have a severe learning difficulty. The mobility component has two rates, a higher and lower rate decided by a person's ability to get about.
    The higher rate is for people who are unable or who are very close to being unable to walk; the lower is for people who can walk but who reasonably require someone with them when outdoors, e.g. becasue they have a visual impairment, epilepsy or suffer from incontinence. The higher rate can be used to lease or buy a car from Motability. If you choose this option, your benefit is paid directly to the charity.
No medical examination is needed to qualify for these benefits, and the payments are unaffected by savings and income.

DLA for children under 16

You can claim DLA for a child with a physical or mental illness or disability if they need more help or looking after than other children of the same age because of their illness or disability.

You can also claim DLA before the child is aged 3 months, but the benefit will not be paid until the child reaches 3 months (unless they are terminally ill in which case payments are usually immediate).

Things to bear in mind
  • There are special rules for people who are terminally ill to help them get their benefit quickly and easily.

  • You can get DLA even if no one is actually giving you the care you need.

  • You may not get DLA if you are in hospital or residential care.

  • DLA is unaffected by savings and income.

  • DLA is ignored as income when working out Income Support and Jobseeker's Allowance.

  • If you are over 65 and cannot receive DLA, you may be entitled to Attendance allowance (AA)instead.
How to claim

The claim pack is available at social security offices. The form is self-assessed and requires a great deal of personal information. Completing it can be a long and negative experience, but it is vital to secure the financial help you need. You can request a medical examination as an alternative to completing the form.

To claim under the terminal illness provision, a medical report is required from your doctor. Special provision has been made for a representative (e.g. a carer) to claim on behalf of the terminally ill person and the arrangements are such that patients need not learn of their condition.

If, through illness or a mental condition, a disabled person is unable to manage their own affairs, it may be possible for the Benefits Agency to appoint someone else to act on their behalf.

Further information

DLA helpline: 0845 712 3456 (local call rates apply), Mon to Fri 7:30am to 6:30pm.
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