Disability Living Allowance
Disability Living Allowance is a tax-free benefit paid to you if you are under age 65 and need help with personal care, getting around, or both because of an illness or disability.
The rate payable depends on your care and mobility needs.
You may be entitled if:
- because of illness or disability you have developed care and/or mobility needs before the age of 65 and claim before then.; or
- you have needed help with personal care or getting around for at least three months and the need is expected to exist for at least a further six months. If you are terminally ill and are unlikely to live longer than 6 months you do not have to satisfy this qualifying period, this rule applies to all customers, including babies under 3 months old.; or
- you use a kidney machine at home or in a self care unit two or more times per week.
Form DLA1 (Adult), (DLA1(Child) for children under the age of 16) is available from Disability and Carers Service or from your local Social Security or Jobs & Benefits office. The form should be completed and returned within 6 weeks of the request otherwise some benefit may be lost. Terminally ill people who are unlikely to live longer than 6 months should ask their doctor to complete form DS1500 which they should then send to Disability and Carers Service with their claim form.
Weekly or 4 weekly by direct payment into an account.
For as long as the qualifying conditions are satisfied. Awards may be for a limited period or for an indefinite period.
Rates of Disability Living AllowanceEffective from 9 April 2009
Care Component
Weekly Amount |
Rate |
| £70.35
|
Highest rate
|
| £47.10
|
Middle rate
|
| £18.65
|
Lowest rate
|
Mobility Component
Weekly Amount |
Rate |
| £49.10
|
Higher rate
|
| £18.65
|
Lower rate
|
Disability Living Allowance has two components to help you with the extra costs which arise as a result of your illness or disability and the help that you need.
The rate payable depends on how much care you need (care component) and the amount of difficulty you have in getting around (mobility component).
The care component is awarded if you need help with personal care. There are three rates depending on the amount of care you need.
The highest rate is payable if you need help both day and night.
The middle rate is payable if you need help during the day or night.
The lowest rate is payable if you need some help during some of the day (but less than the middle rate), or if over age 16, would need help to prepare a cooked main meal.
You can qualify for the care component if you use a kidney machine at home or in a self care unit two or more times per week.
Special rules apply if you are terminally ill (i.e. you have a life expectancy of less than six months). In this situation you will qualify for the highest rate of the care component straight away without the need to serve a qualifying period and regardless of any care needs you may have.
If you go into a care home or somewhere similar funded by (or fees assistance provided by) a Health and Social Care Trust, an Education and Library Board, a Health Service Trust or other government department, the care component of Disability Living Allowance may stop on the payday following the 28th day after the date of admission.
If you pay your own fees in a care home or somwhere similar, you can continue to receive the care component of Disability Living Allowance even if you are still receiving Income Support.
From the 19 June 2000 the care component of Disability Living Allowance can be paid to people who finance their own care in accommodation managed by a Health and Social Care Trust, unless they are receiving Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance (Income Based) or Housing Benefit , or are one partner of a married or unmarried couple for whom an amount is included in the Income Support or Jobseeker's Allowance (Income Based).
The mobility component of Disability Living Allowance is not affected if you move into a care home or somewhere similar.
Disability Living Allowance is withdrawn after 28 days or an aggregate of 28 days in hospital.
Disability Living Allowance paid for a child under age 16 is withdrawn after 84 days or an aggregate of 84 days if the child goes into hospital.
The higher rate mobility component is payable if you:
- cannot walk at all; or
- are virtually unable to walk; or
- have had both legs amputated at or above the ankle, or were born without legs or feet; or
- are both deaf and blind and needs someone with you when outdoors; or
- are severely mentally impaired with severe behavioural problems and are receiving the highest rate of care component.
If you receive the higher rate of mobility component you are exempt from paying road tax and will qualify for the blue badge scheme (disabled car stickers). If the award is for 1 year or more you may be able to get a car or wheelchair under the Motability scheme.
The lower rate is payable if you can walk but are unable to do so out of doors unless someone is with you.
Claims for Disability Living Allowance include a section for your own assessment of how your illness or disability affects you. A minority of customers who complete the self assessment questionnaire will be asked to undergo a medical examination. If you do not want to fill in the self assessment part you can ask for a medical examination instead.
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