Disability Living Allowance – rates and how to claim :Cross Stitch – Money, tax and benefits
Disability Living Allowance is paid at different rates depending on how your disability affects you. There are several ways you can get a claim pack. You can also claim online.
Disability Living Allowance is in two parts – the care component and the mobility component. You may be able to get just one component or both.
| Highest rate | £77.45 |
| Middle rate | £51.85 |
| Lowest rate | £20.55 |
| Higher rate | £54.05 |
| Lower rate | £20.55 |
Your individual circumstances will affect how much you can get. The claim pack gives some examples of different levels of care and mobility needs.
Claim straight away – if you delay you may lose benefit.
You can claim online or get a claim pack by:
- phoning the Benefit Enquiry Line
- downloading the claim form from this page
There are two forms (DLA1A). One if you are claiming for someone aged 16 or over and another if you are claiming for someone aged under 16.
In April 2007 a new Disability Living Allowance (adult) claim form was introduced. Work is ongoing to develop the online version, which will be made available as soon as possible.
In the meantime you can still claim online or you can download the new claim form from this page.
This is a confidential freephone service for disabled people and carers. You can call the Benefit Enquiry Line and ask them to send you a claim pack. They can send you the claim pack in an alternative format if required – for example, Braille.
They can also arrange for someone to help you fill out the form if required. Please note that the person you speak to may need to arrange for someone to phone you back.
Telephone: 0800 88 22 00
Textphone: 0800 24 33 55
You can also use the Text Relay service.
The Benefit Enquiry Line is open 8.30 am to 6.30 pm Monday to Friday.
If you request a form from the Benefit Enquiry Line, the date of request will be treated as your date of claim from which Disability Living Allowance can be paid, as long as the form you receive is returned within six weeks of that date. If you delay making a claim, you may lose out on benefit.
The person taking your call will not have your personal details but will be able to give you general advice. This advice must not be taken as a decision about your claim.
If you are having technical difficulties – for example downloading the form, navigating around the form or printing a hard copy – please contact the eServices helpdesk:
Telephone: 0845 601 80 40
Textphone: 0845 601 80 39
Email: [email protected]
The eService helpdesk is open 8.00 am to 9.00 pm Monday to Friday and 8.00 am to 4.00 pm Saturday and Sunday. Calls are charged at local rate.
Once you have made your claim, you can get advice on Disability Living Allowance from the Disability Living Allowance helpline who should have access to your records.
Telephone: 08457 123 456
Textphone: 08457 22 44 33
The helpline is open 7.30 am to 6.30 pm Monday to Friday.
Email: [email protected]
You can also use the Text Relay service.
It usually takes around 40 working days to deal with a new claim, unless the claim is made under the special rules, in which case it will be dealt with much more quickly.
If you think a decision about your benefit claim is wrong, you can ask the office who made the decision to explain it. You can also ask to have the decision reconsidered. If you are still unhappy, you can appeal against the decision in most cases.