Website of the UK government

The information in this section is a guide only. The office dealing with your claim can answer any questions you may have about claiming and getting Disability Living Allowance.

Who can get Disability Living Allowance?

You may get Disability Living Allowance if:

You can get Disability Living Allowance whether or not you work.

It isn't usually affected by any savings or income you may have.

If you're aged 65 or over, you may be able to get Attendance Allowance.

• Disability Living Allowance - who can get it (disabled people section)
• Attendance Allowance (disabled people section)

Special rules - if you're terminally ill

If you have a progressive disease and are not expected to live for more than another six months there are special rules to help you get the benefit quickly and easily.

Medical examinations

You won't usually need a medical examination when you claim for Disability Living Allowance. But if you're asked to have one you can find out more from the link below.

• Medical examination - Disability Living Allowance (disabled people section)

How much do you get?

Disability Living Allowance has two parts called 'components':

Some people will be entitled to get just one component; others may get both.

The care component and mobility component are paid at different rates depending on how your disability affects you.

How it's paid

Disability Living Allowance is normally paid directly into any account of your choice that accepts Direct Payment of benefits. This might be a bank, building society or other account provider.

You may be able to get someone else to collect your Disability Living Allowance - for help contact your bank, building society or other account provider.

If you'd like more information on how you can be paid other ways, contact the office dealing with your claim - details are in the 'Rates and how to claim' section.

Effect on other benefits and entitlements

If you start to get Disability Living Allowance it might increase the amount of other benefits you're entitled to for example: 

Disability Living Allowance is ignored as income for working out these income-related benefits and tax credits. 

Rates and how to claim

Claim straight away - if you delay you may lose benefit.

You can claim online or get a claim pack by:

Find out more in 'Rates and how to claim' - Disability Living Allowance (disabled people section), below.

• Rates and how to claim - Disability Living Allowance (disabled people section)
• Claim Disability Living Allowance online Opens new window

What else you need to know

To get Disability Living Allowance you must be in Great Britain or treated as living here, and meet certain other conditions about your residence and presence.

Also, changes to your circumstances can affect the amount of Disability Living Allowance you get or whether you get it. For example, this could be a stay in hospital or if your disability gets worse or better.

• What else you need to know - Disability Living Allowance (disabled people section)

Disability Living Allowance - British Sign Language and subtitled film

A short film about disability benefits - which is presented in British Sign Language, narrated and also subtitled - can be downloaded from Directgov. The information is also available on DVD, which you can request to be delivered to you.

• Disability benefits - British Sign Language and subtitled films (disabled people section)

More about Disability Living Allowance

• Who can get it (disabled people section)
• Rates and how to claim (disabled people section)
• What else you need to know (disabled people section)

More useful links

• Guide to financial support for disabled people (disabled people section)
• Information for carers (caring for someone section)
• Your home, adaptations and equipment (disabled people section)