10 years of stammeringlaw 1999-2009
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Disability living allowance

Disability living allowance (DLA), or Attendance allowance for those first claiming over 65, may be payable if you require help from another person. I have heard of DLA mobility element being successfully claimed in relation to a stammer, but this will very much depend on the facts and is likely to be rare.

Introduction to DLA

Disability living allowance may be payable if you require help from another person (whether or not you actually receive help). You need to first claim before the age of 65. DLA is not normally deducted from any income-related benefits you may be getting, and is payable even if you are working. DLA is also a 'gateway' in the sense of entitling you to certain other benefits.

So far as relevant to stammering, there are ways one may be entitled to DLA, under either the 'lower rate mobility component' or possibly the 'care component':

Mobility component

You may qualify for DLA lower rate mobility component if you are able to walk but are -

"so severely disabled physically or mentally that, disregarding any ability [you] may have to use routes which are familiar to [you] on [your] own, [you] cannot take advantage of the faculty out of doors without guidance or supervision from another person most of the time."

I have heard of two people who stammer successfully claiming for this. The lower rate mobility component is £19.55 per week for 2011/12. More on mobility component and stammering...

Care component

You may also be entitled to DLA if you are so severely disabled physically or mentally that you 'require' from another person 'attention in connection with your bodily functions' for a significant portion of the day, whether during a single period or a number of periods. This is for the lowest rate care component.

'Bodily functions' can include speech. However, I have not heard of anyone successfully claiming the DLA care component for stammering.

Children

DLA is available even for a child under 16 if an additional test is met. Child tax credit, which may be available if you are responsible for a child or young person, includes a 'disabled child element' if the child or young person is receiving DLA.

DLA: proposed changes

In December 2010, the Government announced proposals to replace DLA with a 'Personal Independence Payment'. See www.disabilityalliance.org/dlatest.htm. The framework for the Personal Independence Payment is contained in Part 4 of the Welfare Reform Bill published in February 2011.

Attendance allowance

Attendance allowance is the 'equivalent' of Disability Living Allowance for people aged 65 or over. The tests are tougher than for DLA. So far as relevant to stammering, you may be entitled to attendance allowance if you are 65 or over and so severely disabled physically or mentally that you require from another person frequent 'attention in connection with your bodily functions' throughout the day. However, I have not heard of anyone successfully claiming Attendance Allowance for stammering.

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Last updated 3rd April, 2011