MeKnows

The Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is there to help disabled people that need someone to look after them or have difficulties with mobility. The DLA is a tax free benefit.

Who is eligible? The disability allowance is available to people who meet certain criteria.

To qualify a person must have a physical or mental disability of the level that requires assistance in caring for themselves. A person will also be eligible if they have walking difficulties or other mobility issues. The disability allowance is not available to people aged over 65 years and a person must have had care or mobility needs for a period of three months to qualify and their circumstances need to remain the same for the next sixth months. The amount that a recipient of the Disability Living Allowance will receive varies depending on the individuals care and mobility needs.

For people requiring disability assistance who are over the age of 65 there is a benefit called Attendance Allowance which they may be eligible for. A person over 65 is eligble for Attendance Allowance if he or she has a physical or mental disability that requires care assistance.

People who are terminally ill will be eligible for Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance without a qualifying period.

The Disability Living Allowance is broken down into two separate components which are the care component and the mobility component. The care component is allocated to people who need help in being looked after. The Mobility component is allocated to people who can't walk or have walking difficulties. Recipients of the Disability Allowance will be allocated either one or both of the allowance components depending on the recipients circumstances.

The Disability Living Allowance can be paid into a bank or building society account for convenience.Through Motability Scheme the Disability Living Allowance can be used to buy or lease a Motability car