What is Disability Living Allowance?

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What is Disability Living Allowance?

The houses of parliament, some cash and someone in a wheelchair.

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is the name of a benefit that some people with a disability or health condition get. 

The money is to pay for extra help to do things and to get around.   

A red cross beside someone in a wheelchair and DLA and a green arrow pointing to someone in a wheelchair and PIP with a green tick.

Some people who used to get DLA now get Personal Independence Payment (PIP) instead. 

Who can get DLA?

A boy holding a green ball.

You can get DLA for children if you look after a child who:  

  • is under 16
A girl sitting at a table with an ipad.
  • has a health condition or disability 
A lady helping a young boy and a boy in a wheelchair.
  • needs extra help than a child without a disability

or

finds it difficult to move around 

The number 3 next to 3 pages from a calendar.

The child must have needed extra help or found it difficult to move around for at least 3 months. 

The number 6 next to 6 calendar pages.

You must think their difficulties will carry on for at least 6 months. 

A group of adults with Disability Living Allowance above them.

Some adults get DLA.

A woman filling in a form with Disability Living Allowance above her and a red cross beside her.

If you are 16 or over, you can not apply for DLA.   

A lady pointing to herself. Beside her is DLA with a red cross and PIP with a green question mark.

If you are 16 or over and do not get DLA, you should find out about Personal Independence Payment (PIP). 

2 piles of money with a pair of scissors between them.

DLA money is made up of 2 parts:

A man giving another man a cup with a spout. Beside them is a pile of money.

1 part is called 'Care'

This is money for some of the extra help people need.

They might need extra help with things like:

A man sitting at a table with a plate of food.
  • eating
A girl washing her hands at a sink.
  • keeping clean
A woman putting on a cardigan.
  • getting dressed
A man thinking.
  • making decisions
2 girls playing together.
  • making friends
A pile of money beside a girl in a wheelchair.

The other part is called 'Mobility'

This money is to help people who: 

  • can not walk or 
A walking frame.
  • find it hard to move about or
A man guiding a man who can not see well.
  • need extra help to move about. 
made with photosymbols

This easy read was first published 21/08/2023 

Last updated: 21/08/2023 

 

The information on this page is for guidance only. 

Mencap hold no responsibility for DWP processes, timescales, decisions and service . 

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