Guide to Claiming

DLA 1

section 2

Disability Living Allowance -

for a person aged 16 or over

This guide is intended to help both claimants and advisers to complete Section 2 of the Disability Living Allowance claim pack.

It is based on the claim pack for persons over aged 16.

It may also be useful for those claiming DLA for children and those claiming Attendance Allowance.

The layout of this guide and the questions are the same as the actual DLA 1 form.

Prompts to help answer the questions and include the right sort of information are given in the shaded areas.

The shaded areas match the answer boxes and give you hints as to what should be put in each particular box.

It would be useful to read through this guide before you start to fill in the claim pack.

Don't forget, give details about any difficulties you have and any help you need. You do not have to be getting this help.

Remember if you are not sure about any section you can get further advice from you local advice centre, see below, or from the DLA Helpline on 0800 882 200.

Your Local Advice Centre is-

About you - continued

Please tick all the boxes that apply to you.

You are blind or partially sighted
This means that you have problems
with your eyesight even when
wearing glasses or contact lenses
You are both deaf and blind
To get help because of deafness and
blindness, you must have a large
amount of hearing loss and sight loss.
But you do not have to be totally deaf
and totally blind.

You have problems with hearing
even with a hearing aid
You have problems with speech,
which mean that you cannot
communicate well with other people
This could be problems with hearing
or speaking, or a language disorder.

You have a learning disability

You have severe learning disability
and severe behavioural problems
You have a mental health problem
You have had both legs amputated
above the ankle or through the ankle,
or you were born without legs or feet

You cannot walk at all

You have some other problem
not on this list

Walking outdoors

By this we mean walking on reasonably level ground, not up or down hills or slopes.

Do you have physical problems walking? No Go to page 4

Some examples might be

walking causes you severe discomfort, or Yes

makes you breathless

a heart complaint
a learning disability or behavioural problems
an amputation
you were born without legs or feet
paralysis.

Or something else.

Describe in your own words the problems you have and the help you need with

walking.

Some examples might be that you

need someone to physically support you
need to stop and take a tablet
get out of breath easily
have problems with your balance or your manner of walking.

Or something else.

If you have an amputation, please tell us the level of the amputation.

Tell us about anything you use to help you walk.

Some examples might be crutches, a walking stick or walking frame, an artificial leg,

or something else.

If the effort of walking would be dangerous for you, tell us about this.

Tell us roughly how far you can walk before you feel severe discomfort.

This is how far you can walk before

you feel severe discomfort.

For example, before you need to stop and rest.

metres/yards

If possible you should time how long it

takes to walk the distance above.

Tell us how long on average it takes you to walk this far.

How many days a week do you have this amount of difficulty walking?

If you have the problems described above everyday, you should put 7, even if you

don't walk outdoors everyday?

days a week

Having someone with you when you are outdoors

Do you need to have someone with you No Go to page 5.

when you are outdoors?

Some examples might be that you

are blind or partially sighted Yes
are deaf
need someone with you when you are in

places you do not know well

have behavioural problems or a learning

disability

suffer from a phobia or obsession that

means you cannot walk outdoors

suffer anxiety or panic attacks, or cannot

concentrate because you hear voices or see

things

may forget where you are going, or

wander off

have no road sense or traffic sense
might fall
might put yourself or other people in

danger

need someone with you to make sure

you are safe

need someone to show you the way.

Or something else.

Describe in your own words the problems you have and the help you need

when you are outdoors.

If you have the problems described above

everyday, you should put 7, even if you don't

walk outdoors everyday?

How many days a week do you need someone with you when you are

outdoors?

days a week

Falls or stumbles

Do you sometimes fall or stumble, even in NoGo to page 6.

places you know well because of your

disability or the effect of your medication?

This could be indoors or outdoors. Yes

Why do you fall or stumble?

Some examples might be that you have dizzy spells, or your legs give way,

or something else.

Tell us where you might fall or stumble.

This could be indoors or outdoors. Consider the places where you have had falls or stumbled and the places you are likely to fall. For example, moving around your home, going up and down stairs, getting up from a chair, out of bed or out of the bath, or walking outside. This may involve repeating information given in previous questions.

Describe in your own words the problems you have and the help you need

when you fall or stumble.

For example, you may not be able to get up by yourself, or you may injure

yourself, or you may be confused, or something else.

It may be useful to think about the questions and information given on walking and help needed outdoors, relate this to moving and help needed indoors/outdoors. Give as many details as possible about the problems you have and the help you need. Describe what happens. Do you have any warning that you might fall? If so, is it practical for you to make yourself safe? Whatever the frequency of the falls, could the danger to you be serious? If you did fall could you get up again without help? Have you been hurt as a result of a fall?

Tell us roughly how often you fall or stumble.

Claiming under the Special Rules

Go straight to page 20.

You do not have to answer any more questions until that page.

Consider the last 12 or 6 months, how often has it happened?

Include the times that you have stumbled or tripped and someone

has prevented you from falling. If possible, describe

a recent incident giving the date, time, place

Moving about indoors

Remember this is about the help you need, not the actual help you have. Remember what it is like on the worst days.

Do you have problems moving about indoors? No

Some examples might be

getting out of chairs
walking around indoors Yes
going up or down stairs
using a wheelchair
transferring from a wheelchair to

something else.

Or something else.

Does someone have to tell you or No

encourage you to move about indoors?

Are you unlikely to move around without someone to encourage you?

Yes

Describe in your own words the problems you have and the help you need moving about indoors.

It may be useful to refer to the section on moving around outside. This section may involve repeating or giving similar information. Don't underestimate, give as many details as possible. Think about the help you need. Do you need to hold on to someone/something? i.e. furniture What pain and/or discomfort do you feel? What does/would help ease this? Are you unable to move around because you do not have the help you need? Are you unable to move around for any periods? Why? Does your condition worsen after moving around? How far is it to the toilet/bathroom/kitchen, how long does it take? Do you have to go up/down steps? Do you need help getting to your feet, i.e. up from a chair?

Tell us about any ways your home has been adapted or about any equipment

you use to help you move about indoors. Tell us if someone helps you to use

the equipment.

Think about how long it takes you to move about ie how long to get to the bathroom, bedroom & kitchen?

How long on average do you need help moving about each time?

How many days a week do you need help moving about indoors?

It is likely that if you have problems moving

around, you will need help every day. If you were to

move around would you need help?

Don't underestimate.

How many times a day do you need help?

On average how many times do you go to the toilet, bedroom, kitchen, answer the door or the phone?

Getting out of bed in the morning and into bed at night

Do you have problems getting out of bed in No

the morning or into bed at night?

By night we mean when the household hasYes

closed down at the end of the day. if you

Don't underestimate, remember what it is like on the worst days.

want to tell us about any problems you have

getting into bed or out of bed during the day,

use the box on page 19.

Does someone have to tell you or No

encourage you to get out of bed in the

morning or into bed at night?

Yes

Describe in your own words the problems you have and the help you need

getting out of bed in the morning or into bed at night.

Tell us about any equipment you use to help you get out of bed in the

morning or into bed at night. Tell us how the equipment helps you and how

useful it is. Tell us if someone helps you to use the equipment.

How many days a week do you need help to get out of bed in the morning

or into bed at night?

Remember this is about the help you need, not the help you actually have.

How long on average do you need help for each time?

Think about all the help that you need

getting in/out of bed, how long do you

need help for each of these?

Remember if you need help filling in any part of this form, phone 0800 882 200.

When you are in bed

Do you have problems when you are in bed? No Go to page 9.

Some examples might be

changing your sheets or night clothes in the night Yes
turning over, settling, or staying in bed

being propped up
getting into position to sleep if you need

to be in a special position

getting your bedclothes back on the

bed if they fall off.

Or something else.

Describe in your own words the problems you have and the help you need

Give details of the problems of difficulties you have during

the night, describe what help you need.

Do you sleep badly or wake frequently? Are you in pain or discomfort?

Do you need help to ease this, if so what? Do you need someone to be awake, listen or check on you? Do you need to re-arrange bedding at

night or turn over, do you need help with this? Do you need to change bedding at night, do you need help with this? Do you need to take

medication at night, do you need help with this? Do you need to eat

or drink during the night, do you need help with this?

Tell us about any equipment you use to help you when you are in bed. Tell us

how the equipment helps you and how useful it is. Tell us if someone helps

you use the equipment.

How long on average do you need help for each time?

It may be useful to time this.

How many nights a week do you need help when you are in bed?

Think back over a recent period, do

you need help every night, most

nights, a few nights?

How many times a night do you need help?

Think back over a recent period, what is the usual number of times you need help.

Help with your toilet needs

Don't underestimate, remember what it is like on the

worst days.

Do you have problems coping with your toilet needs? Some examples might be

getting to the toilet No
using the toilet
using something like a commode, bedpan orYes
bottle instead of the toilet
using or changing incontinence aids
using a catheter
cleaning yourself. By night we mean when the household

Or something else. has closed down at the end of the day.

It might be useful to keep a diary of the help you need, when you need it and for how long, to help you answer these questions.

Does someone have to tell you, remind No

you or encourage you to deal with your

toilet needs? Yes

During the night

Do you need help getting from

the toilet? Do you stop drinking earlier in the day so that you won’t have to use the toilet after you

go to bed? What happens if you do not reach the toilet in time?

Give as much detail as possible. It is likely that you will need to repeat information.

Describe in your own words the problems you have and the help you need with your toilet needs?

During the day

Do you have to go upstairs to the toilet, is this a problem? Do you have use the toilet frequently? Do you have difficulty using the toilet, sitting on or getting up from the toilet? Do you need help with clothing or cleaning afterwards?

How long on average do you need How long on average do you need

help each time during the day?help each time during the night?

How many days a week do you How many nights a week do you

nights a week

need help with your toilet needs? need help with your toilet needs?

days a week

How many times a day do you How many times a night do you

times a night

times a day

need help with your toilet needs? need help with, your toilet needs?

Please tell us where the toilet is in the house, and about any special

equipment you use to help you with your toilet needs.

For example, rails by the toilet, a commode, a bottle or something else. Tell us

how useful the equipment is and if you need someone to help you to use the

equipment.

Washing, bathing and looking after your appearance

Do you have problems washing, having a bath No

Or shower, or looking after your appearance?

Some examples might be Yes

getting into or out of the bath or shower
cleaning your teeth

washing your hair
shaving
checking your appearance
personal hygiene
coping with periods.

Or something else.

Does someone have to tell you, remind No

you or encourage you to wash or take a

bath or shower? Yes

Describe in your own words the problems you have and the help you need

washing, bathing or showering, or looking after your appearance. If you

need to wash or bath or shower more than once a day, please tell us why.

If you have bed baths, tell us how long they take.

Tell us about any equipment you use to help you with washing, bathing or

showering, or looking after your appearance. Tell us how the equipment

helps you and how useful it is. Tell us if someone helps you use the

equipment.

This may be some thing like rails, handles or a seat. Say what help

you need to use these. Do you have any difficulties or problems using these? How useful are they? Do you still need other help?

How long on average does it take you to wash or to have a bath or shower?

It will be useful to time these or keep a diary.

Include getting in, washed, out and dried.

If you need help each time you have a wash or a bath you will need help 7 days, even if you don't have a bath everyday.

How many days a week do you need help with washing, bathing or

showering, or looking after your appearance?

How many times a day do you need help with washing, bathing or

showering, or looking after your appearance?

Getting dressed or undressed