The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) handles the Disability Living Allowance (DLA), a payment for people with certain disabilities that make it hard for them to move around or need extra care. DLA is being taken out for adults and replaced by Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and other benefits. However, children under 16 years old in the UK can still get it, and about a million people get it right now.
To keep up with the rising cost of living, DLA rates have gone up by 6.7%. This makes sure that the help given is appropriate for the present economic situation. With this change, families will still be able to get the care and help their kids need without having to worry too much about money. The DWP has also released a full list of 57 medical conditions that can qualify a child for DLA. This is meant to make the eligibility standards clearer and make the application process easier for families.
Introduction to DWP Disability Living Allowance
DLA is available to kids under 16 who have a disability or have trouble moving around and need more care or control than other kids their age. The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) has made a list of 57 medical conditions that can qualify a person for DLA. These conditions include arthritis, epilepsy, hearing and vision problems, and serious mental impairments.
Components and Rates
DLA consists of two components, each designed to address different needs:
Part of Care
People who need help with personal care are the ones this part is for. In 2024, the rates will go up by 6.7% to keep up with the cost of living. They are now:
- Lowest Rate: £28.70 per week for individuals needing part-time help.
- Middle Rate: £72.66 per week for individuals requiring frequent assistance or continuous supervision during the day or night.
- Highest Rate: £108.57 per week for individuals who need care throughout both day and night.
This component assists those with walking difficulties or who require guidance when moving around. The rates for 2024 are:
- Lower Rate: £28.70 per week for those who can walk but need guidance or supervision outdoors.
- Higher Rate: £72.66 per week for those who are unable or nearly unable to walk or who need significant assistance outdoors due to severe sensory impairments.
DWP DLA Application Process
People who want to apply for DLA for a child must be the child’s parent or someone in a parenting role. There are two ways to start the application:
Online: You can find the DLA claim form on the website of the UK government. It is very important to give full details about the child’s illness and how it affects their daily life.
By Phone: The DLA service is open for people who would rather have a paper form or need help. This service provides help over the phone, textphone for hard-of-hearing people, and a British Sign Language (BSL) video transfer service for BSL users during office hours.
Contact Details for Assistance
If you need assistance during the application process or have questions, the DLA helpline is available:
- Telephone: 0800 121 4600
- Textphone: 0800 121 4523 (for those with hearing impairments)
- Relay UK: Dial 18001 followed by 0800 121 4600 for those who cannot hear or speak on the phone using a standard telephone.
- British Sign Language (BSL) Video Relay Service: This service is available for BSL users during office hours (Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm) to facilitate communication.
Also read:-DWP Plans to Reform PIP Benefits, Ending Majority of Payments Within 24 Months
Medical Conditions Qualifying for DLA
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has listed 57 medical problems that a child can have in order to get Disability Living Allowance (DLA). You can get help if your child has a condition that makes it hard for them to do things like move around or get care. The whole list of factors is below:
- Arthritis
- Spondylosis
- Back pain – other/precise diagnosis not specified
- Disease of the muscles, bones, or joints
- Trauma to limbs
- Visual disorders and diseases
- Hearing disorders
- Heart disease
- Respiratory disorders and diseases (e.g., asthma, cystic fibrosis)
- Cerebrovascular disease
- Peripheral vascular disease
- Epilepsy
- Neurological diseases (e.g., multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease)
- Motor neurone disease
- Chronic pain syndromes
- Diabetes mellitus
- Metabolic disease
- Traumatic paraplegia/tetraplegia
- Major trauma other than traumatic paraplegia/tetraplegia
- Learning difficulties
- Psychosis
- Psychoneurosis
- Personality Disorder
- Dementia
- Behavioural disorder
- Alcohol and drug abuse
- Hyperkinetic syndrome
- Renal disorders
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Bowel and stomach disease
- Blood disorders (e.g., hemophilia)
- Multi-system disorders
- Multiple allergy syndrome
- Skin disease
- Malignant disease
- Severely mentally impaired
- Double amputee
- Deaf/blind
- Haemodialysis
- Frailty
- Total parenteral nutrition
- AIDS
- Infectious diseases: viral disease – COVID-19
- Infectious diseases: viral disease – other/precise diagnosis not specified
- Infectious diseases: bacterial disease – tuberculosis
- Infectious diseases: bacterial disease – other/precise diagnosis not specified
- Infectious diseases: protozoal disease – malaria
- Infectious diseases: protozoal disease – other/precise diagnosis not specified
- Infectious diseases – other/precise diagnosis not specified
- Cognitive disorder – other/precise diagnosis not specified
- Terminally Ill
- Unknown
- Amputation
- Autoimmune disorders
- Severe intellectual disabilities
- Chronic respiratory disorders
- Severe developmental disorders
Payment Schedule and Method
Once every four weeks, on a Wednesday, DLA is paid. When the due date for payment is a bank holiday, the payment is usually made early.
All benefits, like DLA, are put into an account that belongs to the person who gets them. This account could be a basic or up-to-date account. Not only does direct deposit keep your money safe, you can also get to it right away after depositing it.
Transition from DLA to Other Benefits
When a kid on DLA turns 16, they will switch to the right adult benefits based on where they live and the type of disability they have. The benefits authorities will help them with this by talking to them directly.
Even though new applications for adults have been stopped, DLA still helps qualified children in very important ways, changing based on the cost of living and the different needs of disabled kids.