Disability Living Allowance – sometimes referred to as 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.
You may get Disability Living Allowance if:
- you have a physical or mental disability, or both your disability is severe enough for you to need help caring for yourself or you have walking difficulties, or both you are under 65 when you claim
- If you are aged 65 or over, you may be able to get Attendance Allowance.
You can get Disability Living Allowance whether or not you work.
It isn’t usually affected by any savings or income you may have.
Special rules – if you are terminally ill
If you have a progressive disease and you are not expected to live for more than another six months there are special rules for claiming to make sure you get your benefit more quickly and easily.
You will not usually need a medical examination when you claim for Disability Living Allowance.
How much do you get?
Disability Living Allowance has two parts called ‘components’: a care component – if you need help looking after yourself or supervision to keep you safe and a mobility component – if you can’t walk or need help getting around
Some people will be entitled to receive just one component; others may get both.
The care component and mobility component are paid at different rates depending on how your disability affects you.
Weekly rates:
Care component
Highest rate: £71.40
Middle rate: £47.80
Lowest rate: £18.95
Mobility component
Higher rate: £49.85
Lower rate: £18.95
How it’s paid
Disability Living Allowance is normally paid directly into any account of your choice which accepts Direct Payment of benefits.
This might be a bank, building society or other account provider. You may be able to get someone else to collect your Disability Living Allowance if you wish. For help with this please contact your bank, building society or other account provider.
Effect on other benefits and entitlements
If you start to get Disability Living Allowance it might increase the amount of other benefits or credits you’re entitled to, such as Income Support, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit, Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit.
Disability Living Allowance is normally ignored as income for working out these income-related benefits and credits.
Claim straight away – if you delay you may lose benefit.
You can claim online or you can get a claim pack by:
phoning the Benefit Enquiry Line – 0800 88 22 00 or textphone 080024 33 55.
contacting your local Jobcentre Plus office or local social security office
downloading the form from www.direct.gov.uk
Changes to your circumstances can affect the amount of Disability Living Allowance you get or whether you get it. For example, this could be a stay in hospital or if your disability gets worse or better.
Disability Living Allowance – British Sign Language and subtitled film A short film – which is presented in British Sign Language, narrated and also subtitled – can be downloaded from Directgov. The information is also available on DVD, which you can request to be delivered to you.
