DLA MOBILITY ALLOWANCE BENEFITS: This DLA for adults section explains everything about the Disability Living Allowance.
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) replaces DLA for new claimants aged between 16 and 64.
The DLA tax-free benefit for disabled people continues for those who are already claiming. Find out the Disability Living Allowance rates and eligibility criteria.
Are you under 65 years and need help looking after yourself or do you have difficulty walking? If so you should apply for PIP.
Note: Disability Living Allowance over 65? Seniors over 65 who have mobility care needs may qualify to claim Attendance Allowance instead.
What Exactly is the Disability Living Allowance?
DLA is a welfare benefit helping individuals with a disability pay for mobility or care costs. But, the Department for Work and Pensions is phasing out DLA.
DWP is reassessing claimants for the new Personal Independence Payment. If you were younger than 65 years old on the 8th of April 2013 you should get your reassessment.
Note: Those with mobility needs (or receiving care) who were born on or before 8th April 1948 can continue to get DLA.
You may qualify to make a new claim for Disability Living Allowance if:
- You are under 16 years of age.
- You were born after the 8th of April 1948 and you make another claim in the same year that you stopped receiving DLA.
What if You are Not Eligible for DLA?
There is another disability benefit for those aged 65 or older. You may qualify to claim Attendance Allowance if you have not received DLA or PIP in the last year.
What happens if you are already claiming Disability Living Allowance? In this case you should continue to receive your DLA payments until you hear from DWP. The Department for Work and Pensions will inform you by letter when your DLA will end. The letter will invite you to apply for Personal Independence Payment instead.
Note: You can use the government PIP checker to see how it might affect your DLA claim.
Disability Living Allowance Rates 2022
DLA rates have two parts or components. The rate you get will depend on how your health condition or disability affects you and your mobility.
DLA Care Component Rates 2022
| Care Component | Weekly Rate | Level of Help You Need |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest Care Rate | £23.70 | Help with preparing cooked meals or care for some of the day |
| Middle Care Rate | £60.00 | Frequent help or constant supervision during the day, supervision at night, or help with dialysis |
| Highest Care Rate | £89.60 | Help or supervision through the day and night (or those who are terminally ill) |
DLA Mobility Allowance Component Rates 2022
| DLA Mobility Component | Mobility Allowance Weekly Rate | Level of Help You Need |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Care Rate | £23.70 | Guidance or mobility supervision outdoors |
| Higher Care Rate | £62.55 | You have any other walking difficulty which is more severe |
How to Get DLA Payments
DLA gets paid every 4 weeks in most cases. When benefits and allowances are paid they go into a secure account such as your bank or credit union account.
Disability Benefits Centre Helpline
If you claim DLA you might get extra benefits or tax credits. You can contact the Disability Service Centre Helpline or your local benefits office.
Some claimants are getting DLA and working. In this case, you may qualify for the disability element of Working Tax Credit. That could be up to £3,220 a year (£4,610 for those with a severe disability).
Disability Living Allowance Eligibility Criteria
You must be under 16 years to make a new claim for DLA. The Disability Living Allowance continues for those born on or before the 8th of April 1948. You can apply for the Personal Independence Payment if you are not eligible for DLA benefits.
DLA eligibility criteria means you either:
- Need help looking after yourself (this is the care component).
- Have some walking difficulties (this is the mobility component).
Do You Need Help Taking Care of Yourself?
How do you qualify for the care part of DLA? You may be eligible if you need:
- Help with daily chores. These may include dressing, eating, washing, using the toilet or communicating your needs.
- Supervision or care to avoid you putting yourself or others in danger.
- Someone to be with you when you receive your dialysis.
- Help to prepare a cooked main meal during the day time.
Note: You may qualify for the DLA care component if you live alone or do not get the care you need.
Do You Have Walking or Mobility Difficulties?
How do you qualify for the mobility part of DLA? You may be eligible if, when using your normal aid, you:
- Cannot walk.
- Can only walk short distances without severe discomfort.
- Are likely to become seriously ill if you try to walk.
As a rule, other individuals also qualify for the mobility component if they:
- Have no feet or legs.
- Are assessed as 100% blind and at least 80% deaf and you need someone with you when outdoors.
- Are severely mentally impaired with severe behavioural problems and get the highest rate of care for DLA.
- Need supervision most of the time when walking outdoors.
- Have been certified as severely sight impaired and you were aged between 3 and 64 on 11 April 2011.
Note: You must inform the Department for Work and Pensions if your circumstances change. Examples include an improvement in your condition improves or any time you need more help.
Disability Living Allowance Assessment
What happens if you get a letter asking you to go for a DLA assessment? The Disability Living Allowance assessment checks the level of help that you may need. The letter will explain why this is necessary in more detail.
It also informs you where to attend the assessment. DWP may stop your benefit if you fail to attend the health check.
You must provide identification when you attend the assessment. They accept your passport or any 3 of the following documents. You can use your:
- Birth certificate
- Full driving licence
- Bank statement
- Life assurance policy
How to Claim Disability Living Allowance
You can make a new claim for DLA if you are under 16 years old or you were born on or before 8 April 1948. You can also claim DLA if you were born after the 8th of April 1948 providing your claim occurs in the same year you stopped getting DLA.
How to Apply for Personal Independence Payments
DWP will send you a letter that invites you to apply for Personal Independence Payments. Your PIP application must occur within 28 days of that letter date stamp. Your claim for DLA benefit will then finish, either:
- When you decide not to apply for Personal Independence Payment.
- At least 28 days the DWP decision about your claim for PIP.
There is no need for you to do anything until you receive the letter from DWP. But, contact them if there is any change how your disability or illness is affecting you.
Fixed Period Disability Living Allowance Award
Do you have a fixed period DLA award? Contact the Disability Benefits Helpline if you did not get an invitation letter for PIP. You should have received the letter 28 days before your DLA is due to end.
DLA Change of Circumstances
If your circumstances change it can affect how much DLA you receive. In this case, you should call the Disability Service Centre helpline. DLA change of circumstances include:
- The level of help that you require (or your health condition) changes.
- You need to go into hospital or a care home for more than 4 weeks.
- You go to live abroad for more than 13 weeks.
- You get imprisoned or you get held in detention.
You must contact the benefits helpline and inform them if you:
- Change your name or there is a change of address or bank account details.
- Change the contact information of your doctor.
- Want to stop receiving the Disability Living Allowance benefit.
Note: Failing to report changes can result in a £50 civil penalty fine. You may also have to repay any overpaid benefits as a result.
How to Appeal a DLA Benefit Decision
If you disagree with a DLA decision you can appeal to the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal. But, as a rule you must first ask for ‘mandatory reconsideration‘ before you lodge your appeal.