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Disability Living Allowance is in two parts - the care component and the mobility component. You may be able to get just one component or both.

Your individual circumstances will affect how much you can get. The claim pack gives some examples of different levels of care and mobility needs.

How to claim

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

You can claim online or get a claim pack by:

There are two forms (DLA1A). One if you are claiming for someone aged 16 or over and another if you are claiming for someone aged under 16.

In April 2007 a new Disability Living Allowance (adult) claim form was introduced. Work is ongoing to develop the online version, which will be made available as soon as possible.

In the meantime you can still claim online or you can download the new claim form from this page.

Claim online

To claim Disability Living Allowance online, use the link below and follow the on-screen instructions.

• Benefits online service Opens new window

Call the Benefit Enquiry Line

This is a confidential freephone service for disabled people and carers. You can call the Benefit Enquiry Line and ask them to send you a claim pack. They can send you the claim pack in an alternative format if required - for example, Braille.

They can also arrange for someone to help you fill out the form if required. Please note that the person you speak to may need to arrange for someone to phone you back.

Telephone: 0800 88 22 00

Textphone: 0800 24 33 55

You can also use the Text Relay service.

The Benefit Enquiry Line is open 8.30 am to 6.30 pm Monday to Friday.

If you request a form from the Benefit Enquiry Line, the date of request will be treated as your date of claim from which Disability Living Allowance can be paid, as long as the form you receive is returned within six weeks of that date. If you delay making a claim, you may lose out on benefit.

The person taking your call will not have your personal details but will be able to give you general advice. This advice must not be taken as a decision about your claim.

Download a claim form to print at home

You can also download a claim form to print off and fill in using a pen. Each form comes with notes that will help you fill it in and tell you where to send it. In either case, the date of the claim will be established as the date on which it is received by your local office.

• Download 'Disability Living Allowance form DLA1A Adult' (PDF, 541K) Opens new window

• Download 'Disability Living Allowance form for people under the age of 16 DLA1A Child' (PDF, 259K) Opens new window

• Help with PDF files

Download a claim form to complete on your computer

You can complete a claim form on your computer. We recommend that you save the form on your computer before completing it: to do this simply right click with your mouse on the link below and choose the 'Save Target As' option. You cannot save the form once you have opened it in an internet browser.

Once you have completed the form, you can print and sign it. Please note that the on-screen forms do not apply in Northern Ireland.

• Download 'on-screen Disability Living Allowance claim form DLA1A Adult' (PDF, 698K) Opens new window

• Download 'on-screen Disability Living Allowance claim form for people under the age of 16 DLA1A Child' (PDF, 807K) Opens new window

• Help with PDF files

Technical difficulties with a claim form

If you are having technical difficulties - for example downloading the form, navigating around the form or printing a hard copy - please contact the eServices helpdesk:

Telephone: 0845 601 80 40

Textphone: 0845 601 80 39

Email: eservicehelpdesk@dwp.gsi.gov.uk

The eService helpdesk is open 8.00 am to 9.00 pm Monday to Friday and 8.00 am to 4.00 pm Saturday and Sunday. Calls are charged at local rate.

Once you have made your claim

Once you have made your claim, you can get advice on Disability Living Allowance from the Disability Living Allowance helpline who should have access to your records.

Telephone: 08457 123 456

Textphone: 08457 22 44 33

The helpline is open 7.30 am to 6.30 pm Monday to Friday.

Email: dcpu.customer-services@dwp.gsi.gov.uk

You can also use the Text Relay service.

It usually takes around 40 working days to deal with a new claim, unless the claim is made under the special rules, in which case it will be dealt with much more quickly.

Effect on other benefits and entitlements

If your claim for Disability Living Allowance is successful, you may get extra money paid with your:

If someone is paid Carer's Allowance for providing care to you, you may not be able to receive an extra amount for severe disability in any of these benefits or credits.

For more information, you should contact the office dealing with your claim for the benefit or credit concerned or contact the Disability Living Allowance Helpline.

This information plus advice about Carer's Allowance can be found in leaflets which can be downloaded from the link below. You can print them out and give them to your carer, if you have one.

• Download 'Disability Living Allowance additional information for adults' (PDF, 76K) Opens new window

• Download 'Disability Living Allowance additional information for children' (PDF, 35K) Opens new window

• Help with PDF files

• Carer's Allowance

If you think a decision about your claim is wrong

If you think a decision about your benefit claim is wrong, you can ask the office who made the decision to explain it. You can also ask to have the decision reconsidered. If you are still unhappy, you can appeal against the decision in most cases.

• How to appeal against a benefits decision

If you are unhappy with the service you receive

If you have any comments about the way your benefit claim has been handled or the service you received, you can contact the Disability and Carers Service.

• Making a complaint about the Disability and Carers Service

More useful links

• Financial support contacts

• Disability Living Allowance