Under 65 - Disability Living Allowance

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is paid in different forms - called the Care Component and the Mobility Component.

The Care Component

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) Care Component has three rates:

Low rate of £17.75 if you:

need help for about an hour each day
and/or can't safely cook and prepare a cooked main meal for yourself.

Middle rate of £44.85 if you:

need help or watching over throughout the day or during the night.

High rate of £67.00 if you:

need help or watching over throughout the day and during the night.

The Mobility Component

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) Mobility Component has two rates:

Low rate of £17.75 if you can walk but need guidance or supervision to walk in unfamiliar areas because, for example you:

have learning disabilities
panic if you are on your own
cannot follow directions
would be in danger in traffic.

This rate of DLA Mobility Component can be awarded for a child aged over five years.

High rate of £46.75 if you:

can only walk short distances without suffering pain and discomfort
or if you are unable to walk.

You can get the higher rate for mobility if:

you have to keep stopping because walking causes you severe pain and discomfort
the distance you walk is limited by pain and discomfort or a physical disability
the speed at which you are able to walk is slower than 'normal' walking pace. (Any stops or rests count as time spent walking any distance)

This rate of DLA Mobility Component can be awarded for a child aged over three years.

Making a claim

The claim form is designed for you to explain about your own needs. It is important to answer all of the questions as fully as possible.

Do not be put off because the forms are long. Put down as much detail as you can to give a true picture of all the difficulties your disability causes you. Use the blank spaces on each page as well as the tick boxes to explain your difficulties. The information on the form will be considered by a 'decision maker' from the Department for Work and Pensions who may well telephone you to discuss your difficulties. You need to be realistic and honest on the form and the telephone.

All rates of DLA are paid whether or not you have savings, and any other income you have does not affect it. You can be working and claim DLA. It is a cash benefit to help with the extra costs of disability. It is up to you how you spend it.

Will you soon be 65?

If so, it may be worthwhile making a claim for DLA. It will be too late to claim for the lower rate for care and either rate for mobility once you have had your 65th birthday. If you make a successful claim before then the benefit can be paid for life. A claim for the high rate of mobility could be worth over £36,000 by the time you reach the age of 80.

Unhappy with a decision?

Many claims are refused initially, or paid at a lower rate than was expected. This could be because your claim form did not explain in enough detail about your circumstances or, due to the Department for Work and Pensions not fully understanding your situation when making their decision.
This decision can be challenged by either revision or appeal. Derbyshire County Council's Welfare Rights Service can help you with this, but you need to act quickly as there is a one month time limit for asking for a revision or appeal.

Has your condition got worse since you claimed?

If you were awarded Disability Living Allowance some time ago and now have more difficulty managing or have extra problems, you might qualify for higher rates of benefit. You can ask for your award to be looked at again at any time. You can get further advice from the Benefits Helpline. It is important to get advice because asking the Department for Work and Pensions to look again at your award could risk losing what you already have, if you do not give enough clear and relevant information.