Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is a tax-free benefit for children and adults up to the age of 64.  If you are aged 65 and over you would claim Attendance Allowance (for more information about Attendance Allowance please click on the Senior Citizens’ section).  It is not means-tested so it does not matter if your income or savings are high.  You can claim DLA whether you are in work, out of work, or studying.  If you need support to communicate or if you have mobility problems as a result of hearing loss or physical limitations, you can claim this benefit.

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is a benefit for children and adults up to the age of 64.  Below is a brief summary of Disability Living Allowance. For full information regarding DLA, please click

www.rnid.org.uk/information_resources/factsheets/benefits/factsheets_leaflets/disability_living_allowance.htm

You can claim DLA whether you are in work, unemployed or studying.

You can claim DLA if you need support to communicate, or if you have mobility problems as a result of hearing loss or physical limitations. These are known as ‘Care’ component and ‘Mobility’ component.

DLA Care component
To qualify for the Care component you must:-

• Be aged under 65 (there is no minimum age), and
• not be living in hospital or in some types of residential accommodation, and
• satisfy one of the Care conditions, as explained below

Care conditions
The DLA care component has three different rates: lower, middle, and higher. To qualify for benefit, you must have had the relevant care or mobility needs for at least three months and expect to have the same needs for at least the next six months.

DLA Mobility component
To qualify for the mobility component you must:
• be aged three or over for the higher mobility component, or
• aged five or over for the lower mobility component, and
• be aged under 65, and
• not be living in hospital and
• satisfy a mobility condition as explained below.

Mobility conditions
There are two rates of payment for the mobility component – lower and higher.  To qualify for benefit, you must have had the relevant care or mobility needs for at least three months and expect to have the same needs for at least the next six months.

How DLA affects other benefits
When the Department of Work and Pensions decides whether or not you can get means-tested benefits, they do not treat DLA as income.

A DLA award can also help you qualify for other benefits.

Useful organisations
If you have an enquiry about benefits please contact the Benefits Enquiry Line (BEL).  It is an enquiry line for people with Disabilities only.  This is a free advice line run by the Department for Work and Pensions and they can help you fill in your form. The BEL will normally call you back within five days of your request for help to fill in the form.

Telephone no. 0800 882 200
Textphone no. 0800 243 355

BEL’s opening hours are Monday to Friday: 8.30 a.m. until 6.30 p.m. and Saturday from 9.00 a.m. until 1.00 p.m.

Disability Living Allowance Helpline
Disability Benefits Unit, Government Buildings, Warbreck House, Warbreck Hill, Blackpool, FY2 0YJ. Please note: This is not a freephone helpline and calls are charged at local rate.

Telephone no. 0845 712 34 56 Textphone no. 08457 224433

Citizens' Advice Bureau and Community Law Centres can also help with filling in forms and representing clients at an appeal tribunal.  This is free legal advice. 

Citizens' Advice Bureau (free legal advice)
There are CAB's in the following areas:-

• Alston
• Appleby-in-Westmorland
• Barrow-in-Furness
• Carlisle
• Cleator Moor
• Egremont
• Keswick
• Maryport
• Wigton
• Workington

To find out the addresses and opening times, please click on the following link:-

www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/getadvice

Community Law Centre (free legal advice)

For Carlisle the Community Law Centre is at 8 Spencer Street, Carlisle, CA1 1BG.  They are open Mondays to Fridays from 10.00 a.m. until 1.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. until 4.00 p.m.  You can telephone for an appointment or pop in and make an appointment.  Unfortunately, they cannot fund Sign Language interpreters.  The telephone no. is 01228 515129.

For Copeland area the Community Law Centre is at The Senhouse Centre, Whitehaven, CA28 7ES,  They are open from 10.00 a.m. until 12.30 p.m. on Tuesdays only.

For Allerdale area the Community Law Centre is at West Cumbria Trades Hall Centre 39 Brow Top, Workington, CA14 5DP.  They are open from 1.30 p.m. until 4.00 p.m. on Tuesdays only.

The Community Law Centre also has a mobile bus which will visit:

Maryport: In the Co-op Car Park at 10.00 a.m. until 12 noon (Mondays only)

Cockermouth: In the Wilkinson's car park at 2.00 p.m. until 4.00 p.m. (Mondays only)

Cleator Moor: Outside the Library at 10.00 a.m. until 12 noon (Wednesdays only)

The mobile bus does not visit Maryport, Cockermouth and Cleator Moor every week.  You will need to contact the Community Law Centre in Carlisle to find out which dates the mobile bus will visit these areas.

www.rnid.org.uk/information_resources/factsheets/benefits/factsheets_leaflets/disability_living_allowance.htm

www.direct.gov.uk/DisabledPeople