Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is a tax free, social security benefit for children and young people up to 16 with an illness or disability. It is not dependent on your household income but only on your child’s needs.

To get DLA, your child must need significantly more help or looking after than another child of the same age who doesn’t have any special needs.

If your child is turning 16 at their next birthday, you will receive notice that their claim will be coming to an end. You will have to contact DWP (Department for Work & Pensions) to register to claim for PIP (Personal Independence Payments).

DLA is paid at different rates depending on the level of help the person needs. It is made up of two parts – the care component and the mobility component. Your child might qualify for one or both of these.

How to claim DLA

You can get a copy of the claim form from the DLA website.

If this is the first time you are claiming DLA we recommend that you get some help from one of these organisations from the Islington SEND Community Support Service.

It takes around 40 working days to deal with your claim. You might have to have a medical assessment to complete your application.

DLA can be backdated to the date of your claim only if it is on a dated form.  Any of the organisations above will date your form and this is one of the reasons why it is a good idea to contact them.

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