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Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for adults

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1. Overview

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is being replaced by other benefits. If you already get DLA, your claim might end.

If you live in England or Wales, you’ll get a letter telling you when this will happen and how you can apply for Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg).

If you’re under 16

You can only apply for DLA if you’re under 16 and you live in England or Wales.

If you’re over 16

You cannot apply for DLA. You can apply for:

If you live in Scotland

All existing claims for DLA have been moved to Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance.

Find out about disability benefits in Scotland.

2. If you already get DLA

If you were born on or before 8 April 1948, you’ll continue to get DLA as long as you’re eligible for it.

If you were born after 8 April 1948, your DLA will end. You’ll get a letter telling you when that will happen. You’ll continue to get DLA until that date.

Unless your circumstances change, you do not need to do anything until you get this letter.

If your DLA claim is ending

If your DLA is ending, you’ll get a letter inviting you to apply for Personal Independence Payment (PIP). If you do apply, you’ll need to do it within 28 days.

DLA will continue to be paid until at least 28 days after a decision is made about your PIP application.

If you’re eligible for PIP, you’ll start getting PIP payments as soon as your DLA payments end.

Change of circumstances

You must contact the Disability Service Centre if your circumstances change, as this may affect how much DLA you get. For example:

  • the level of help you need or your condition changes
  • you go into hospital or a care home for more than 2 days
  • a medical professional has said you’re nearing the end of life (for example, because of a life-limiting illness)
  • you plan to go abroad for more than 4 weeks
  • you’re imprisoned or held in detention

You must also contact the centre if:

  • you change your name, address or bank details
  • you want to stop receiving your benefit
  • your doctor’s details change

You may be asked to claim Personal Independence Payment (PIP) after you report a change to your circumstances.

If you go into a care home for more than 2 days, you’ll also need to report if: 

  • there’s a change to the way your care home fees are funded (for example, you start or stop getting funding from the NHS or local council)
  • you were staying in the care home temporarily and you become a permanent resident
  • you move to another care home
  • you go into hospital

You could be taken to court or have to pay a penalty if you give wrong information or do not report a change in your circumstances.

If you move from England or Wales to Scotland

If you get DLA and move from England or Wales to Scotland, you must:

DWP will write to tell you what will happen to your DLA.

Call DWP as soon as you move to Scotland. If you do not, your payments could be affected.

If you move from Scotland to England or Wales

If you get Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance, you must:

Social Security Scotland will tell you when your Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance will stop.

Call the Disability Service Centre as soon as you move to England or Wales. If you do not, your payments could be affected.

If you’ve been paid too much DLA

You may have to repay the money if you:

  • did not report a change straight away
  • gave wrong information
  • were overpaid by mistake

Find out how to repay the money you owe from benefit overpayment.

If you disagree with a decision

You can challenge a decision about your DLA claim. This is called asking for ‘mandatory reconsideration’.

3. DLA rates

You can no longer apply for DLA. Check what other benefits you could apply for. If you get Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance and move from Scotland to England or Wales contact the Disability Service Centre.

DLA is made up of 2 components (parts), the ‘care component’ and the ‘mobility component’. To get DLA you must be eligible for at least one of the components.

How much DLA you get depends on how your disability or health condition affects you.

If you need help looking after yourself

You might get the care component of DLA if you:

  • need help with things like washing, dressing, eating, using the toilet or communicating your needs
  • need supervision to avoid putting yourself or others in danger
  • need someone with you when you’re on dialysis
  • cannot prepare a cooked main meal

You can get this part if no one is actually giving you the care you need, or you live alone.

Care component Weekly rate Level of help you need
Lowest £30.30 Help for some of the day or with preparing cooked meals
Middle £76.70 Frequent help or constant supervision during the day, supervision at night or someone to help you while on dialysis
Highest £114.60 Help or supervision throughout both day and night, or a medical professional has said you’re nearing the end of life

If you get DLA and Constant Attendance Allowance, the care component of your DLA will be reduced by the amount of Constant Attendance Allowance you get.

If you have walking difficulties

You might get the mobility component of DLA if, when using your normal aid, you:

  • cannot walk
  • can only walk a short distance without severe discomfort
  • could become very ill if you try to walk

You might also get it if you:

  • have no feet or legs
  • are assessed as 100% blind and at least 80% deaf and you need someone with you when outdoors
  • are severely mentally impaired with severe behavioural problems and get the highest rate of care for DLA
  • need supervision most of the time when walking outdoors
  • are certified as severely sight impaired and you were aged between 3 and 64 on 11 April 2011
Mobility component Weekly rate Level of help you need
Lower £30.30 Guidance or supervision outdoors
Higher £80 You have any other, more severe, walking difficulty

You must contact the Disability Service Centre if your circumstances change, for example your condition improves or you need more help.

Assessments

You might get a letter saying you need to attend an assessment to check the level of help you need. The letter explains why, and where you must go. Your benefit may be stopped if you do not go.

At the assessment, you’ll be asked for identification. You can use a passport or any 3 of the following:

  • birth certificate
  • a full driving licence
  • life assurance policy
  • bank statements

How you’re paid

DLA is usually paid every 4 weeks on a Wednesday.

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

All benefits, pensions and allowances are paid into your bank or building society account.

Extra help

You could get extra benefits if you get Disability Living Allowance - check with the Disability Service Centre or the office dealing with your benefit.

If your disability or health condition stops you from working and you’re eligible for Universal Credit, you could get an extra amount on top of your Universal Credit standard allowance.

If you get DLA and you work, you might also be able to get the disability element of Working Tax Credit (up to £3,935 a year, or up to £5,640 if your disability is severe). Contact HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to find out.