We love DLA – make sure you are not missing out
4 mins read
Wednesday 1 February 2023
This month we are celebrating Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
Our We Love DLA month is all about increasing awareness and take-up of this key benefit that helps meet the extra costs of raising a disabled child. It is particularly important in the current climate with a sky-high cost of living.
Biggest rise in children entitled to DLA
There have been great strides in recent years encouraging take-up of DLA. Last year, there was an increase of over 52,000 children entitled to DLA, representing a rise of 9.5% – the biggest in recent years. There are now 603,076 children entitled to DLA.
In Scotland, where the Child Disability Payment is replacing DLA, there were an estimated 43,720 children receiving the new benefit by 30 September 2022 according to Social Security Scotland.
Derek Sinclair, Senior Parent Adviser on Contact’s Helpline, said: “We think the increase in children entitled to DLA is due to a combination of factors, including an increased number of children identified as disabled and families struggling financially due to the cost of living and so seeking to maximise income.
“On top of that there is better awareness of DLA, reduced stigma in claiming and better resources to help families claim. Despite all this, Contact estimates the benefit is still underclaimed.”
Income boost for families struggling with the cost of living
There have been large rises in children identified with a disability or additional need in recent years, due to better identification and medical advances. Government figures show that there are almost 1.5 million pupils in England with a special educational need or disability. The figure for the whole of the UK will be higher.
Not all will be eligible for DLA, but some will be – and these are currently missing out on a potential income boost of £24.45 to £156.90 each week.
Gateway benefit to unlock other financial help
Derek added: “DLA is not only the main benefit for disabled children: it is also a gateway benefit which might allow a family to qualify for other financial help too – for example, Carer’s Allowance.
“It can make a real difference to a family’s overall income and other outcomes such as reducing isolation. Many families describe getting an award of DLA as life changing as it gives them choices.”
What our DLA month is all about
During this We Love DLA month, Contact will be highlighting all the amazing resources we have to help families claim DLA. We know that it’s not an easy process, but we have videos, parent guides, Facebook Q&As and lots more to help you.
We’ll also be busting top myths about DLA – such as the myth that a child needs a diagnosis to claim DLA, which is just not true.
And later this month we will be asking you what you use your child’s DLA for, so please join in the conversation and let us know!
Resources to help you claim DLA
Contact has a host of resources to help families claim DLA for their child:
- Visit our DLA webpage to learn more about this essential benefit;
- Read our Disability Living Allowance parent guide for more detailed information, question-by-question advice and help with challenging award decisions;
- For help with completing the DLA form, take a look at our top tips webpage which provide both general advice and detailed tips on each section of the form. Make sure to watch Derek’s expert advice videos as you scroll down the page too;
- See what other financial help you could be entitled to as a result of your child’s DLA;
- Watch our four new Introduction to DLA videos, available in English, Polish, Somalian and Urdu;
- Read our parent factsheet about claiming the DLA higher rate mobility component for children who are autistic or have a learning disability, which is soon to be updated;
- Watch our DLA Higher Rate Mobility webinar for even more in-depth advice on the eligibility criteria for this component and how best to explain your child’s needs;
- Listen to our DLA podcast episodes on any major podcast platform;
- For parent carers in Scotland, we also have information on the new Child Disability Payment.
