How to claim
Method of claiming
You can:
- make a claim on-line using the electronic claim form
- print off a claim form, or an on-screen form which you have completed
- obtain a claim pack (DLA1) by ringing the Benefit Enquiry Line
- send in the tear-off slip from either leaflet Disability Living Attendance or Disability Living Allowance for children or
obtain a claim pack by contacting your local Jobcentre Plus office .
Branches of Citizens Advice and some other voluntary organisations, some local authorities, and offices of the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency also stock claim packs for people who call there for help with making a claim. The Department for Work and Pensions may have designated some of these as ‘Alternative Offices' to receive claims for specified benefits on its behalf and evidence related to them, and to record the date of claims
Date of claim
If you obtain your claim form by sending off a tear-off slip from leaflet Disability Living Allowance or Disability Living Allowance for children, the date the slip is received by the Department for Work and Pensions will be stamped on the claim form before it is sent out. If you ask for a claim form by ringing a Jobcentre Plus office or the Benefit Enquiry Line, the date of your call will be stamped on it. This also applies if you request a claim form from an Alternative Office. In all of these cases, you then have six weeks to complete and return the claim form, and still keep the same claim date. The date six weeks later is also stamped on the form as a reminder. If you claim online, you will also have six weeks to complete the electronic claim form from the date that you register your claim on the e-service.
However, if you obtain your claim form from an outlet which has not been designated by the Department as an Alternative Office, or you have printed a form from our website, the date of claim will be the date the completed form is received by an office of the Department for Work and Pensions. So, it is important to send in your claim form quickly.
If you make the claim under the special rules for people who have a terminal illness, remember to send a DS1500 medical report with the claim. You can get the report from the disabled person's doctor.
If you cannot act for yourself
We may appoint someone to act on your behalf if you are unable to act for yourself because of physical or mental incapacity. If this happens, the person who is appointed is responsible for dealing with all your social security affairs, including claiming and receiving benefits. They are also responsible for notifying any changes of circumstances which may affect your DLA. [Legislation (31)]
If you are able to handle your own affairs but you have difficulty getting out, you may be able to arrange with your bank, building society or other account provider for someone you trust to have authority to collect your money.