How to Claim Disability Living Allowance in the UK

Disability Living Allowance is claimed through the Department for Work and Pensions, not through a local office or online portal you can access directly

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is a UK benefit for children and young people under 16 who need help with personal care or mobility. You claim it by requesting a form from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), completing it with detailed information about your child's condition and daily needs, and returning it by post. The DWP then assesses the claim and makes a decision, usually within 12 weeks, though complex cases can take longer.

DLA is not the same as Personal Independence Payment (PIP), which is for adults aged 16 to 64. If your child turns 16, they will need to claim PIP instead; DLA stops at age 16. The benefit has two components — care and mobility — and your child may receive one, both, or neither depending on their needs.

You cannot explore online for DLA. The only way to start a claim is to contact the DWP and ask for a claim form, either by telephone or by post. This is a deliberate design: the DWP does not accept applications through any other route.

Key Takeaways

Contact the DWP by phone (0800 121 4600) or by post to request a DLA claim form; there is no online process.
Complete the form with specific examples of how your child's condition affects their daily activities, not general statements about their diagnosis.
Return the form by post within one month of receiving it, or the DWP may treat it as abandoned and you will need to request a new one.
The DWP usually makes a decision within 12 weeks, though you may be asked for more information or invited for a face-to-face assessment.
DLA stops when your child turns 16; you must claim Personal Independence Payment (PIP) before that date if they are to continue receiving support.

How to Request and Complete the DLA Claim Form

To start a claim, ring the DWP's DLA helpline on 0800 121 4600. The line is open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (closed Sundays and bank holidays). Tell them you want to claim DLA for a child under 16. They will take your name, address, and your child's details, then post the form to you. The form is called the DLA claim form or DS1500 if your child is terminally ill (which has a faster assessment process).

You can also write to the DWP to request a form. The address is on the GOV.UK website under "Disability Living Allowance" — search for "DLA claim form address" to find the current postal address, as it changes occasionally.

Once you receive the form, you have one month to return it. If you do not return it within that time, the DWP will close your claim and you will need to request a new form and start again. If you need more time, contact the DWP before the important date and ask for an extension; they may grant one if you have a good reason.

The form asks detailed questions about your child's condition, their daily routine, what help they need with personal care (washing, dressing, toileting, eating), and any mobility problems. Do not write "he has cerebral palsy" or "she has autism." Instead, describe what your child actually cannot do or needs help with: "He cannot dress himself and needs an adult to choose his clothes and help him put them on every morning" or "She cannot walk more than 50 metres without stopping to rest and needs someone to push her wheelchair." The DWP assesses need, not diagnosis.

What Information You Need to Provide

Before you start filling in the form, gather documents that support your claim. You will need your child's birth certificate, proof of your address (a recent utility bill or council tax letter), and any medical evidence you have — letters from consultants, hospital discharge summaries, GP records, or school reports that describe your child's needs. You do not have to include these with the form, but having them ready means you can refer to them as you write and provide them quickly if the DWP asks for more information later.

The form also asks about your child's daily routine: what time they wake up, whether they need help getting washed and dressed, what they eat, whether they can use the toilet independently, and what they do during the day. It asks about mobility: can they walk, how far, do they need someone with them, do they use equipment like a wheelchair or walking frame. Be specific about timing and frequency. "Needs help with toileting" is vague. "Needs an adult to help her use the toilet four times a day and wears incontinence pads at night" is the kind of detail the DWP uses to make a decision.

You will also be asked to name your child's GP and any hospital consultants or specialists involved in their care. The DWP will contact them directly to ask for their views on your child's needs, so make sure you have the correct names and addresses.

The Assessment Process and Timeline

After you return the form, the DWP sends it to a Decision Maker, who reads it and decides whether to award DLA. This usually takes 8 to 12 weeks, though the DWP's target is 12 weeks and some cases take longer if more information is needed. You will not hear anything during this time unless the DWP contacts you to ask for clarification or to arrange an assessment.

In some cases, the DWP will invite your child for a face-to-face assessment with a healthcare professional. This is not a medical examination; it is a conversation about your child's needs and how they manage daily activities. The assessor will ask you and your child questions similar to those on the form, observe how your child moves and interacts, and write a report for the Decision Maker. You can bring someone with you to the assessment — a partner, family member, or advocate — and you can ask for a copy of the assessor's report afterwards.

Once the Decision Maker has all the information they need, they write a decision letter. This letter tells you whether DLA has been awarded, which component (care, mobility, or both), and at what rate. If you disagree with the decision, you can ask for a mandatory reconsideration within one month of the letter, and after that you can appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Social Entitlement Chamber).

DLA Rates and Payment

DLA has two separate components, each with different rates. The care component has three rates: lower, middle, and higher. The mobility component has two rates: lower and higher. Your child may receive one component, both, or neither. The rates change each April, so the amounts vary year to year; check the GOV.UK website for the current rates.

If your claim is approved, the DWP pays DLA directly into your bank account every four weeks. You do not have to do anything to receive the payment once it has been awarded — it arrives automatically. The DWP will also send you a letter confirming the award and explaining how long it lasts. Most awards are for a fixed period (often two years), after which you will need to claim again.

What Happens When Your Child Turns 16

DLA ends on the day your child turns 16. If they still need support, you must claim Personal Independence Payment (PIP) before that date. You can start a PIP claim up to three months before your child's 16th birthday. If you do not claim PIP by the time DLA ends, there will be a gap with no payment, and you will have to start a new claim from scratch.

PIP is assessed differently from DLA — it focuses on how a condition affects daily living and mobility activities — so even if your child received DLA, they may not automatically receive PIP at the same rate or for the same component. You will need to complete a new claim form and go through a new assessment process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I claim DLA if my child has just been diagnosed?

Yes. DLA is based on your child's current needs, not how long they have had a condition. You can claim as soon as your child meets the criteria — needing help with personal care or mobility. There is no waiting period.

What if the DWP asks for more information after I submit the form?

The DWP will write to you asking what they need. You usually have two weeks to provide it. Send it by post or, if they give you a reference number, you can sometimes email it. If you miss the important date, your claim may be closed, so respond as quickly as you can.

Can someone help me fill in the form?

Yes. A family member, friend, or adviser can help you complete it. Charities like Contact (for families with disabled children) and Cerebra offer free support with DLA claims. Some local councils also have welfare rights services that help for free.

What if my child's needs change while the claim is being assessed?

Tell the DWP in writing. Send a letter to the address on your claim form letter explaining what has changed. The Decision Maker will take this into account when they make their decision.

Do I have to pay anything to claim DLA?

No. DLA is free to claim. No organisation or website should charge you to help you claim. If someone asks for money, it is a scam.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.