Welfare Rights - Disability Living Allowance

What is Disability Living Allowance?

Disability Living Allowance is a benefit for people with disabilities. It is aimed at people who need help looking after themselves and at people who find it difficult to walk or get around. It is made up of two parts - the care component and the mobility component.

This benefit is for people who are under 65 years, and who need help looking after themselves and for people who find it difficult to walk or get around. 

If you require any help/assistance from Welfare Rights, please contact by telephone. The Service will arrange to see you to help with the completion of the form and Disability Living Allowance claim pack. This is a free and confidential service.

Contact us

For details of how to contact us see the Welfare Rights Service Homepage

or call the Local Benefit Agency on (01226) 777222

or 0800 88 22 00 Freephone number to make a claim

 

How you can help

1. Be honest about your disability. You should not exaggerate but neither should you understate your problems. You should put the problems down even if you find them embarrassing.

2. The form is designed to try to ask the relevant questions. So, you should answer the questions on each page. For example, if the question is about getting out of bed do not answer about getting dressed.

3. You do not need to fill every page in full to be entitled. If you don't need help with any function tick no help needed

4. Your condition may vary. You should put on the form what help you need on the worst days. You should then state that your condition is sometimes not as bad as this. If you are in pain, for example, with walking or getting dressed or you feel exhausted afterwards, mention this.

5. Make sure you mention all medical conditions and medication taken. If you have a specialist give full details of this.

6. Always keep a copy of your claim form. You may have a visiting doctor come to your home to examine you and make a report. Any slight inconsistency in your answers may mean you will not be believed about the extent of your condition.

7. A renewal claim considered afresh. Always put full information on a renewal form.

Additional Notes

How you fill in the form is very important. If you do not put something down on the form at this stage it is less likely that a decision maker, visiting examining doctor or Appeal Tribunal will believe you about facts you only mention later.

Although every effort is made to ensure the information on these pages is accurate and up to date, it should not be treated as a complete and authoritative statement of the law - we cannot be held liable for any inaccuracies and their consequences.

Response Times / Next Steps

The service endeavours to answer the telephone within 5 rings.

Requests for a home visit are acknowledged within 6 working days.

Letters and electronic mail are acknowledged within 2 working days

Messages left for officers are returned within 24 hours unless notified otherwise.