Help with disability living allowance form

We’ve highlighted some key questions to be aware of and provided hints and tips on filling in the form.

Find out the best way to approach these questions.

Question 38 – statement from someone who knows your child

Get a specialist who knows your child and understands their condition to answer this section, such as:

• a doctor or nurse (for physical conditions)
• a teacher or support worker (for learning or behavioural difficulties)

Before they fill in the form, explain to the specialist what additional care your child needs and how much time you spend providing it. Tell them that their answer to this question is supposed to show how your child needs more help than a child their age without a disability.

If a school staff member fills in question 38, they should be fully aware of your child's needs during a typical school day.

They might be tempted to talk about your child's progress, but it’s more useful if they focus on the extra support your child needs.

There isn’t much space to answer this question, but they can continue on a separate sheet if necessary – just attach it to the back of your claim form.

You can also ask your child’s school for a ‘special educational statement’ to include as evidence.

Question 51 – When your child’s mobility issues began

This question asks when your child first began having trouble getting around. They need to have had these mobility issues for at least three months to qualify for payments.

If your child is terminally ill, different rules apply.

Question 52 – Using the mobility payment for a car or wheelchair

If your child is granted the higher rate mobility payment, you can use that money to lease a car or wheelchair through the Motability scheme.

Fill out this question if you want to learn more about how the Motability scheme works.

Be detailed

The latest DLA claim form has more tick boxes than previous forms, so you might feel you don’t have enough room to talk about your child’s needs.

But there are extra text boxes on pages 19, 34 and 37, or you can attach separate sheets of paper.

Be as detailed as possible. It’s best to assume the person assessing your claim has little or no knowledge of your child's condition. 

Take your time

Before you start writing, read through the entire form to understand what information is needed.

You might want to get advice from an expert to boost your chances of being awarded the level of DLA you’re entitled to.

Keep a diary

Keeping a diary for a week or two before filling out the form can be helpful as you can use it as evidence.

Write down:

• how much help your child needs
• what help they need
• when they need this help 

Use examples

Use examples wherever possible to describe your child's needs. The diary might come in handy here.

Think about:

• what a typical day looks like for your child
• how their condition affects their social interactions
• how they compare to siblings or friends

Explain their needs on bad and better days

Don't downplay your child's situation, especially if each day looks different.

Try to avoid phrases like ‘good days’ that may imply your child doesn’t always need help  –  use ‘better days’ instead.

Explaining what a bad day and a better day look like gives a fuller picture of your child’s needs.

Supporting evidence

Including supporting documents can strengthen your claim. These might include:

• medical reports
• speech and language assessments
• psychological evaluations
• statements of special educational needs

Don’t delay sending in your claim if you’re waiting for any of these documents. DLA can’t be backdated, so it’s better to submit your claim and send in further evidence later.

Final review

Before sending your form, do a thorough read-through. Always ask yourself if you’ve included enough detail for someone who hasn’t met your child.

Check that:

• you’ve answered all relevant questions
• your contact details are correct
• you haven’t missed anything important
• all supporting evidence is included 

Keep records

Lastly, keep copies of the form and any supporting documents.

You may need them for future reference, especially if you want to challenge a decision or renew your claim.

Contact, the charity for families with disabled children, have a detailed step-by-step guide to filling in the DLA form available on their website.

If you have any questions, or you need help filling the form in, ring Contact’s free helpline on 0808 808 3555 (Monday – Friday 9.30am to 5pm).