How to apply for Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

A step-by-step digital guide to take you through the DLA application process.

How to claim Disability Living Allowance

A picture of an application form with entry fields for name, address, education and work.

To ask for The front cover of a leaflet about Disability Living Allowance Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is the name of a benefit that some people with a disability get. The money is to pay for extra help you might need to look after yourself and to get around. Disability Living Allowance is being replaced by a benefit called Personal Independence Payment Personal Independence Independence means doing things on your own. Making your own choices. Payment (PIP) is the name of a benefit that some people with a disability or health condition get. The money is to pay for extra help you might need to look after yourself and to get around. Some people who used to get Disability Living Allowance (DLA) now get PIP instead. (PIP). you need to get an A drawing of a hand completing an application form An application form is a form you have to fill in to try to get something. .

An open laptop showing a website home page

You can get a DLA application form from:

A woman is phoning someone who is sitting at a desk

by contacting the Disability Living Allowance Helpline by phoning: 0800 121 4600.
- Textphone: 0800 121 4523
- Relay UK: 18001 then 0800 121 4600

A man is reading a book with the word Instructions written on the front cover

This page tells you what you need to do to apply for DLA.

Step 1: Check if you are eligible for Disability Living Allowance

To get DLA for children in England and Wales the child must:

be under 16
have a health condition or disability
have needed extra help, or found it difficult to move around for at least three months, and you think their difficulties will last for at least another six months.

Some adults still get DLA although new DLA claims for people aged 16 or over are no longer supported. They should look at claiming Personal Independence Payments (PIP) or Attendance Allowance instead.

There are differences to DLA if you live in other parts of the UK. For information visit:

DLA for children in Northern Ireland.
or if the child lives in Scotland go to: Child Disability Payment.

Step 2: Make sure you have the right information to hand

You will need to know the child's:

full name, address and telephone number
date of birth
National Insurance is a type of tax Tax is the money that pays for things like schools, hospitals and the police. There are different types of taxes like income tax Income tax is the money that is taken out of the money you earn every month. It helps to pay for things we all need like hospitals and schools. , VAT VAT is also called Value Added Tax. VAT is the extra money you pay when you buy things. The money goes to the government The Government are the people who run the country. The Government decide how much tax people should pay and how things like the National Health Service (NHS) should work. to pay for things like schools and hospitals. and council tax Council A council is also called a local authority A local authority is also called a council. They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live like schools, social care Social care means the services that give care and support to people who need it. (support for people), parks and dustbin collection. . They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live. These include: schools, social care (support for people), parks and dustbin collection. Tax is the money that people pay to the council A council is also called a local authority A local authority is also called a council. They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live like schools, social care Social care means the services that give care and support to people who need it. (support for people), parks and dustbin collection. . They are a group of people who make decisions about some of the things in the area where you live. These include: schools, social care (support for people), parks and dustbin collection. . It helps to pay for things like social care (support for people), parks and dustbin collection. . . It is money that is taken out of the money you earn each month. You pay National Insurance so that you can get a pension A pension is money you get when you are older to pay for the things you need. You can pay money into your pension when you are working so there is more money for when you are older. when you are older. number if they have one
nationality (eg: English)
passport number if they have one
dates and addresses when they lived outside either England or Wales
dates when they went abroad over the last 3 years
dates and addresses when they were in a hospital or residential school
dates of any treatment or tests
health professional's full name
current medication list

You will also need to provide your bank or building society account number and sort code.

Step 3: Get someone to help you with the form if you want

You can ask a relative, friend or someone at an advice centre to help you fill out the DLA application form but you must sign the form yourself, if you can.

If you would like braille, British Sign Language, email, a hearing loop, translations, large print, audio or something else to help you complete the application form please call In front of a picture of lots of different types of benefit leaflets is the Houses of Parliament and a hand putting money into an envelope. The Department for Work and Pensions is sometimes called the DWP. It is part of the government and manages payments and benefits like Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Employment Lots of different people in different jobs including a baker, and someone using a computer. Employment means having a job. and Support Allowance, and Income Support. (DWP) on 0800 121 4600 or textphone 0800 121 4523 to tell them what you need.

Step 4: Fill in the DLA form

It is a good idea to take your time to complete the DLA form but there is a deadline for it to be with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Visit the Scope website for details about the deadline.

When completing the form you should:

Use black ink.
Send copies of any supporting information with your form - do not send any original documents.
Read the questions carefully - not all questions will apply to the child.
Take a copy or pictures of the completed form, if you can, before you send it to the DWP.

The DWP have created a help guide which, from page 8, helps explain the more complex questions on the Disability Living Allowance application form.

Once you have completed the application form, send it to: Freepost DWP DLA Child

- You do not need to add a postcode or a stamp.

If you received a paper form from the DWP you can use the envelope, which came with the application form, to return it in.

Step 5: Getting your DLA decision

After you’ve applied, you’ll get a letter from the DWP within 3 weeks that explains how long it will take them to make a decision about your claim.

To reach their decision they may contact your child's health professionals or other organisations for more information.

If your claim is successful, DLA will usually be paid every 4 weeks on a Tuesday.

If your payment date falls on a bank holiday, you will usually be paid before the bank holiday. After that you’ll continue to get paid as normal.

Step 6: Unsuccessful DLA applications

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If your application is unsuccessful, you have the right of To appeal means saying you want someone to think about a decision again. .

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For Disability Living Allowance the appeal process starts with a request for a ' Mandatory means that something must be done. reconsideration' and can be further appealed to the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal. For more information about a mandatory reconsideration visit the government website.

Three teenagers

If you need help with the mandatory reconsideration process you can contact our A learning disability is to do with the way someone's brain works. It makes it harder for someone to learn, understand or do things. Helpline.