Disability Living Allowance

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is a benefit for children and for adults under 65 with disabilities. You can get DLA if you find it difficult to walk or get around, and/or if you need help to look after yourself.

How DLA is split

There are two parts to DLA: a care part and a mobility part.

Care

To get help with your personal care you must be ‘so severely disabled physically or mentally that you require’ the following from another person:

• frequent, prolonged or repeated attention in connection with your bodily functions during the day or through the night
• supervision through the day or through the night (this could be continuous) in order to avoid substantial danger to yourself or to others
• help to prepare a cooked main meal for yourself if you have the ingredients.

The care component is paid at three different levels. In the event that you qualify for this, the rate you get depends on the severity of your care needs.

Mobility

You might be able to get help with your mobility if that's difficult for you.

There are two levels of help you can get. To receive the higher rate you must be one of the following:

• unable to walk
• virtually unable to walk
• in danger of losing your life by the exertion of walking
• without legs or feet
• both deaf and blind.

You will get the lower rate if you're so disabled physically or mentally that you can't safely go outdoors without guidance or supervision.

How to apply

If you want more information about DLA you can visit the Direct Government website or call the Benefits Enquiry Line on 0800 88 22 00.

Reviews and appeals

If you've applied for DLA and aren't happy with your assessment, then you've got the right to have a review, or to make an appeal if you disagree with a negative decision. You'll need to do this within four weeks of the date on the decision letter.

You might have heard that there's going to be a review of the DLA awards under special rules in 2008 - find out more about the review here.