Filling in the DLA form can be difficult for a parent, but don’t be put off.
Contact us might be able to sit with you and help you with the form, or even fill it in for you.
You can also call Contact (for families with disabled children) helpline if you have questions – they’re experts in DLA for children.
Contact (for families with disabled children)
Telephone: 0808 808 3555
Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 5pm
Calls to these numbers are free.
Filling in the form
Keeping a diary of your child’s care needs before you fill in the form can help when it comes to answering the questions. This way you’ll have recent examples of how you care for them, and a good idea of how long it takes you to do certain tasks like helping them get ready for school. If you haven’t kept a diary yet, it might be worth spending a week (or longer) keeping a diary before you start the form. You can use our template 98.9 KB to do a diary for a week. Make a note of what help is needed, why, when and for how long. You should try to fill in the form over a few sessions rather than doing it all at once – you’ll probably find that your answers will be better. Don’t just use the tick boxes on the form – you’ll have a better chance of getting the benefits your child needs if you use the boxes below the questions to explain and give examples of their needs. Write about specific occasions where your child needed help or care because of their disability or heath condition. At times you might feel like your child’s condition or behaviour doesn’t fit into the questions you’re being asked, particularly if your child has a condition that isn’t physical. It’s normal to feel like this, so don’t let it discourage you. Remember, some of the main factors that the DWP are looking for are:- that your child needs more care or supervision than a child of the same age who doesn’t have a health condition
- if your child has problems walking
- if they need guidance or supervision in unfamiliar places
- if they have care or supervision needs that a younger child might have but which a child of their age would not normally have
Useful guides for filling in the DLA form
We recommend that you read Contact’s guide for filling in the DLA form on their website. Their expert guide will:- give you detailed tips on how to fill in the form
- explain what the questions mean
- tell you how to answer specific questions