Disability Living Allowance

What is it?

Disability Living Allowance is paid to you if you become disabled or terminally ill before the age of 65. (If you become disabled after your 65th birthday you should claim Attendance Allowance.)

Basic qualifying conditions

You must have been resident in the Isle of Man, or the UK, for at least 2 years in the 3 year period prior to your claim and you also should have needed help for at least 3 months immediately before you claim. You should also expect to need care for at least a further 6 months.

There are different components which are payable at different rates. These are as follows:

Type of DLA

Care component of DLA

For people who need help with personal care. Children can only receive the care component if they are 3 months old or over.

The lower rate is:

for people who need help during a significant part of the day (but less help than for the middle rate)
for people over the age of 16 who need help to prepare a cooked main meal
for children under 16 who need some help during the day

The middle rate is:

for people who need frequent help during the day
prolonged or repeated help during the night
for children under 16 who need help during the day
for children under 16 who need help during the night

The higher rate is:

for people who satisfy one of the middle rate day conditions and one of the middle rate night conditions

Mobility component of DLA

For people aged 3, or 5 and over. It is payable at one of two rates. The lower rate may be payable from age 5 and the higher rate from age 3.

The lower rate is:

payable to people who cannot walk outside on unfamiliar routes without someone to guide or supervise them for most of the time.

The higher rate is payable to people who are:

unable or virtually unable to walk
have had both legs amputated at or above the ankle
born without legs or feet
both deaf and blind
severely mentally impaired with severe behavioural problems and entitled to the higher rate of the care component

How much could I get and how am I paid?

See the benefit rates for further details.

You can be paid weekly by order which can be cashed at a Post Office or you can have it paid by direct credit into your bank or building society account every 4 weeks.