Disability Living Allowance for adults

COVID-19

Due to COVID-19 the Department for Communities is experiencing a very high volume of Benefit calls. It may take longer to answer your call.

Overview

If you’re already getting DLA and are between 16 and State Pension age, you’ll continue to get DLA until the Department for Communities (DfC) writes to tell you when your DLA will end and invites you to apply for PIP.

You will only be eligible to make a fresh claim to DLA if you are under 16.

• Disability Living Allowance for children

If you're over State Pension age

If you are already getting DLA and are over State Pension age with a life time award, your DLA will continue, providing you continue to meet the eligibility criteria. You will not be reassessed for Personal Independence Payment.

If you’re over State Pension age and haven’t received DLA or Personal Independence Payment in the last year, you may be able to claim Attendance Allowance instead.

DLA rates

The rate you get is made up of two components (parts). How much you get depends on how your disability or health condition affects you.

Care 

Mobility 

How you’re paid

DLA is usually paid every four weeks.

All benefits, pensions and allowances are paid into an account, for example, your bank account.

• How benefits and pensions are paid

Effect on other benefits and entitlements

If you receive DLA it might increase the amount of other benefits or credits you're entitled to, such as:

• Income Support
• Employment and Support Allowance
• Universal Credit
• Pension Credit
• Housing Benefit
• Working Tax Credit
• Child Tax Credit

DLA is normally ignored as income for working out these income-related benefits and credits.

DLA and your carer

If you have someone looking after you, they may be entitled to claim Carer’s Allowance or Carer’s Credit.

SMS messages

When claiming DLA you may receive text messages (SMS) from the Department for Communities (DfC). They will always be clearly marked as DfC and will never ask you to give, or click a link to give, personal information or financial details by message or email.

If you’re concerned or unsure about any text messages (SMS) you receive from about DLA you should contact Disability and Carers Service directly. If you suspect you have received a fraudulent message as a scam, contact Disability and Carers Service immediately.

• More information is available at: scamwiseni

Change of circumstances

You must call Disability and Carers Service if your circumstances change, as this can affect how much DLA you get - for example:

• the level of help you need or your condition changes 
• you go into hospital or a care home for more than four weeks
• you go abroad for more than 13 weeks
• you’re imprisoned or held in detention

You must also contact the helpline if:

• you change your name, address or bank details
• you want to stop receiving your benefit
• your doctor’s details change

If you use sign language, you might be able to use the video relay service to contact the Disability and Carers Service using British Sign Language (BSL) or Irish Sign Language (ISL). To access the service go to:

• Disability and Carers Service

Appeal a decision

If you disagree with a decision, you must usually ask for ‘mandatory reconsideration’ before you appeal.

• Appealing against a benefits decision

More useful links

• The Common Travel Area and social security benefits