Disability Living Allowance
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is a benefit for disabled people in the form of a regular, tax-free payment, but it's gradually being replaced by Personal Independence Payment.
What is Disability Living Allowance?
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is a benefit that helps with the extra costs you may face if you're disabled. It comes in the form of a monthly tax-free payment, which you can spend however you need to. However, it's gradually being replaced by Personal Independence Payment.
What are the eligibility criteria for DLA?
Disability Living Allowance has been discontinued by the government and is gradually being replaced by Personal Independence Payment. However, some people can continue to claim DLA if:
- You were born before 8 April 1948 and are already currently claiming DLA
- You are claiming on behalf of a disabled person under the age of 16
To continue to claim DLA you will need to show that you meet the criteria for either or both of the two components – the ‘care component’ and the ‘mobility component’
You may be eligible for the care component if you require help with everyday tasks such as cooking or dressing, and don’t have anyone giving you the care you need (such as a family member).
You may be eligible for the mobility component if you have severe difficulties walking without assistance.
Both components have levels of severity which determine the rate of DLA you will be eligible for (see DLA rates below).
Which disability benefit should I be claiming?
If you haven’t already claimed DLA then you’ll need to find out which benefit you should claim, as there are different ones depending on your age:
- If you haven’t already claimed DLA and you’re under State Pension age, then Personal Independence Payment is the benefit you need to look into.
- If you haven’t already claimed DLA and you’re over State Pension age, then the benefit to claim is Attendance Allowance.
Not sure when you reach State Pension age? You can find out here.
I already claim DLA - will I be reassessed?
If you’re already claiming DLA, you may be wondering about what will happen as the benefit is replaced.
It all depends on your age:
- If you were born on or before 8 April 1948 you can continue to receive DLA as long as you still have care or mobility needs.
- If you were born after 8 April 1948, then you will be reassessed for Personal Independence Payment instead.
If you need to move over to Personal Independence Payment, you’ll get a letter from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) about this.
What are the current DLA rates?
If you’re already on DLA and want to know how much you should be getting, here are the weekly payment rates from April 2018.
| Care component | Weekly rate | How much support you need |
|---|---|---|
| Highest rate | £87.65 | Constantly need help day or night |
| Middle rate | £58.70 | Frequently need help day or night |
| Lowest rate | £23.20 | Need help only some of the day or with cooking meals |
| Mobility component | Weekly rate | How much support you need |
|---|---|---|
| Higher rate | £61.20 | You're only able to walk a short way before feeling out of breath, dizzy or unsteady, or if you're not able to walk at all outdoors |
| Lowest rate | £23.20 | You need help walking outdoors in places you don't know because of a physical or mental disability, such as deafness or dementia |
How do I apply for disability benefits?
If you don’t currently claim DLA, then you may be able to claim Personal Independent Payment (PIP) or Attendance Allowance instead.
How to claim Personal Independence Payment
How to claim Attendance Allowance
If you already claim DLA and want to know whether you will continue to claim or will be transferred to PIP, you can call the Government’s Disability Living Allowance helpline.
For more information call the Age UK Advice Line on 0800 678 1602.
We’re open 8am to 7pm, every day of the year.
What benefits can you claim?
Do you know what benefits you are entitled to? Age UK's Benefits Calculator can help you, quickly and easily, to find out what you could be claiming.