What is DLA?

DLA is Disability Living Allowance.

I've explained this before, but a brief recap.....

Disability Living Allowance is a UK Government benefit available to people who as result of injury, accident, or illness need temporary or permanent help with care and/or mobility.

There are various levels of help available.

It isn't the scope of this article to offer a full range of the implications of the benefit.

DLA, as I've already mentioned, provides extra financial help for people who need help with their care and/or their mobility. It doesn't matter if you're married, single, have lots of mates or a close family who are willing to help - if you, or those around you feel a little extra will help pay for extra care, or, f'rinstance you need to be accompanied or transported - or even to pay for transport? This is for you.

The first thing worth mentioning is that if you don't have the support of your GP, it's very difficult to get. For instance, your hospital consultant or the social services may feel that you should benefit from help, and your GP may not agree. More, and most unlikely, no-one will agree.

It's still worth applying. But there's a caveat. That is that you will have to attend an independent assessment by a panel to which you will have to produce evidence to support your claim. This may happen even if your GP, hospital, social services all agree. This may happen at any time even if your claim is successful. More, you may be checked for fraud at any time, and you have to report to the Department of Work and Pensions any change in your circumstances or health.

To make life more interesting, there are a number of levels of DLA.

Care. Higher, Middle, Lower rate

Mobility. High. Low Rate.

These may be awarded in any combination. The financial help you may receive depends on the opinion of the Department of Work and Pensions based on the information you provide when you fill in the extensive forms that need to filled in. Tip:- Don't fill it in yourself. Get help from an Advice Centre.

The purpose of the benefit is to pay for care and mobility. It ain't pocket money, or bill money.

It may change at any time. You may be 'called in' for a re-assessment at any time by a panel of independent experts. For example, I was on higher rate care, lower rate mobility, despite that I use a wheelchair. I had to reclaim every two years. At my last reclaim, I was offered middle rate care, lower rate mobility, but 'indefinitely'. After a lot of careful thought, and discussions with my local advice centre, family and other carers, I decided not to oppose the change.

Simple upsides :- DLA isn't means tested. You can get it whatever your income, as long as the work you do doesn't disagree with the way you describe your claim. Pretty obvious really. If you are on your feet all day at work but claim mobility, your a fraud. If you work alone for long periods, but claim you aren't allowed out alone, likewise.

I've had my home adapted with extra banisters, front and rear door rails, bathroom and toilet grips, and bathroom adaptations. These are on loan for as long as I need them and free from the social services. I don't have a social worker, but their their if I need them. I can also get respite care, for myself, or I can go into respite to give my family a rest.

Secondly, if you are awarded middle or higher rate care, if you nominate someone as your carer, they can claim up to about £55 per week Carers Allowance, as long as they care for you at least 35 hours a week and they are allowed to work the rest up to £90 per week plus reasonable allowances (meals, bus fares) on top of that. Be warned though, that if you are on income support, Carers allowance is 'means tested'. So you'll get about £27 per week for 35 hours care.

A home help here costs £14 per hour. But as a carer you may only get £27 per week. that's 74 pence an hour. Disgusting.

catchya!