Important! It is no longer possible for claimants aged between 16 (18 in Scotland) and state pension age to make a new claim for DLA. People in this age should make a claim for Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
Members only can download all our disability living Allowance guides and other resources from here.
If you’re already claiming disability living allowance (DLA), but you’re having problems, then find out how we can help with:
- disability living allowance (DLA) claim forms
- disability living allowance (DLA) medical assessments
- disability living allowance (DLA) appeals
If you’re not sure if are eligible, then look through our list below of 12 things that won’t affect your disability living allowance (DLA) claim. It may help to clear up a few misconceptions
12 things that won’t affect your claim
Disability living allowance (DLA) is a complicated benefit and many people, including some doctors, care workers and DWP staff, pass on information and opinions that aren’t correct. So we’d like to start by telling you 12 things that, no matter what you’ve been told before, don’t affect your right to claim DLA for your child.
1. You’re getting any other benefits (except attendance allowance, personal independence payment and some war pension or industrial injuries supplements) - DLA will be paid on top.
2. Your attend attends a mainstream school or doesn’t have any special support at school
3. Your child doesn’t have an Education, Health and Care plan
4. You or your child have savings.
5. You don’t consider your child to be disabled - DLA is for people with long term health problems which affect their everyday activities.
6. You’ve been told by a doctor, nurse, care worker, teacher - or anyone other than a welfare rights worker - that your child won’t get DLA. Eligibility for DLA is a legal question, not a matter of medical - or any other - opinion.
7. Your child is very young. DLA considers whether your child’s needs are in excess of other children of their age. As all very young children can need a lot of help, it might seem like your child won’t qualify. But the help you provide might be more extensive or time-consuming than the help other little ones would need.
8. Your child is a teenager. Again, DLA would look at how their needs differ from other children of their age.
9. Your child has been turned down before. Many people who use our guides claim successfully after having been refused repeatedly in the past.
10. Your child doesn’t have any specific care costs that you would need to spend the DLA money on: you can spend your DLA on anything you wish. There are a few things, other than your current state of health, which are important, however:
2 things that will affect your claim
1. Are you under 16?
Yes? You will not be able to make an initial claim for DLA, unless you are under 16 (under 18 in Scotland). You will have to claim PIP instead.
No? Unfortunately, if you are 16 or over, you cannot begin a claim for DLA. However, you may be able to claim a similar benefit personal independence payment.
2. Have your health problems lasted at least three months and are they likely to last at least another six months?
Yes? Then you can claim immediately.
No? If they haven’t already lasted three months, you can still make a claim, but payment can only begin from the date when they have lasted three months. You can claim disability living allowance (DLA) on either mental and physical health grounds or a combination of the two.
