1. What is disability living allowance

Disability living allowance (DLA) is a benefit for disabled people who need help with personal care or who have mobility difficulties. Unless you are under 16, you cannot make a new claim for DLA and must claim personal independence payment (PIP) instead (see here).

DLA has two components:

•care component, paid at either the lowest, middle or highest rate;
•mobility component, paid at either the lower or higher rate.

You can get either or both components.

Students already getting DLA can continue to do so, but will be invited to claim PIP instead at some point. Starting college or university does not usually lead the DWP to reassess your entitlement to DLA.

The amount you get is not means tested, and so is not reduced because of student support or other income.

If you are a full-time student getting DLA and you satisfy certain other conditions, you are eligible for universal credit (see here). If you are a full-time student and get DLA, you are eligible to continue to get income-related employment and support allowance. You may also be eligible for housing benefit (if you already get it or you can make a new claim for it) (see here).

Note: the Scottish government plans to replace new claims for DLA for children with a new ‘child disability payment’ from summer 2021.