Care and support

Disability living allowance and attendance allowance

What is disability living allowance?

Disability living allowance (DLA) can be paid if you are aged under 65 when you first claim and have a mental or physical illness or disability which affects your ability to manage your personal care, or means you may need someone to remind you or encourage you to do things for yourself, or affects your ability to get around.

If you claim DLA before your 65th birthday, it can continue to be paid after you reach 65, so long as you still meet the other rules for getting DLA.  DLA has two parts - for care needs and for mobility needs.

What is attendance allowance?

Attendance allowance (AA) can be paid if you are aged 65 or over and have a mental or physical illness or disability which affects your ability to manage your personal care or means that you may need someone to remind you or encourage you to do things for yourself. AA is paid at one of two rates, depending on the level of your care needs, but there is no mobility part to AA.