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Disability Living Allowance
What is it?
Disability Living Allowance is a benefit that is paid to help cover the extra costs of living with a disability. Disability Living Allowance is not means tested, and not affected if you have a job. Instead, the amount that you will receive will depend on the assessment of your needs.
You can apply for Disability Living Allowance if you have care or mobility needs (or both).
Care needs will apply if you need help with using your ‘bodily functions’, during the day or night, or both. Eating, washing, dressing and undressing, and using the toilet are all examples of using your bodily functions. This can also include help which enables you to take part in social activities.
Care needs will also apply if you need help in preventing yourself being a danger, either to yourself, or to others. You may also qualify if you need help to prepare and cook a main meal, but you may have to prove that your disability prevents you from performing such a task.
Mobility needs will apply if you cannot walk outside, or go on an unfamiliar route without the guidance or supervision from another person most of the time. Blindness, deafness, or liable for panic attacks could all be reasons for this.
Mobility needs will also apply if you are unable to walk at all, you can walk but doing so outdoors is difficult, exertion from walking leads to serious deterioration of your health, you have no, or no use of your legs or feet, or you are blind or deaf and need to have someone help you to get around out of doors.
You may also have mobility needs if you have severe learning difficulties and can behave very disruptively.
How much will I get?
Your care needs are graded on a low, middle and high rate basis.
The lower rate means that your disability prevents you from cooking a main meal, or you need care for part of the day. The amount you will receive will be £16.50 a week.
The middle rate means that you need frequent care throughout the day or night. The amount you will receive will be £41.65 a week.
The higher rate means that you need frequent care throughout the day and night, or you are terminally ill. The amount that you will receive will be £62.25 a week.
Your mobility needs are graded on a lower and higher rate basis.
The lower rate means that you cannot walk outdoors without supervision or guidance most of the time. The amount that you will receive is £16.50 a week.
The higher rate means that you have any of the other problems with mobility as listed above. The amount that you will receive is £43.45 a week.
How do I apply?
You will need to complete a form DS704 to receive a claim pack.
Where do I apply?
In order to make a claim, you will need to either phone the Benefits Enquiry line on 0800 882200, and they will send the relevant forms, or obtaining a claim pack by completing leaflet DS704, available from post offices and social security offices. Some organisations are also authorised to hold claim packs, for example, Citizens’ Advice Bureaux.
Alternatively, you can obtain the form DS704 from the Department of Work and Pensions website by logging on to www.dwp.gov.uk, or by clicking your mouse on the link below.
Disclaimer, Target Audience, Jurisdiction Last updated & checked: 10/04/2006