Awarded DLA payment for my child, when will we receive our first payment?

honeypie65

After a long 4 months, I received a text from DWP that my child has been awarded DLA.

I researched a lot and I can’t find anything about getting notified by texts from DLA about being awarded and I haven’t received my notification/award letter as yet.

It has been a long 4 months, struggling to get by so it was a relief to get the text but still worried since this is my first claim and know nothing about it.

Can anyone please help with when we will start to receive payments , will they back date it , and if they do back date; from when?

Sorry for the long message and thank you for any help or advice.

poppy123456

It's paid from the date you rang to start the claim. Usually you'll receive what's owed into the bank before you receive the letter and this is usually 3-5 working days after payment was sent. Four weeks later you'll receive the first 4 weekly payment.

If you want to know what the award is and when to expect any money into your bank you can ring DLA to ask.

honeypie65

Thanks for answering so quickly poppy, super super appreciate it.

I called DLA today and they told me I couldn’t get any info over the phone so I am in limbo waiting to find out.

I received the text on Saturday the 2nd and I friend said I could get the payment tomorrow since they pay out on Tuesday, is that true?

I am trying to see if I can get the things my child needs this week but I don’t know now.

honeypie65

I tired ringing DLA but they didn’t provide any details saying they can’t say anything over the phone.

How should I ask? Should I ask to speak to someone else?

poppy123456

They do usually tell you what the award is when you ring so maybe you should ring again to speak to someone different and hopefully they will give you the information.

DLA isn't only paid on Tuesday, it can be any day Monday to Friday for money that's owed. If you received the text on Saturday then the decision was likely to have been made last Friday so you should receive the money owed by this Friday.

Going forward for your 4 weekly payments they will on the same day of the week each time but the date will always change due to it being 4 weekly.

Are you claiming any other benefits, if so which ones please?

honeypie65

Thank you - okay I’ll call shortly again to find out.

Haven’t received anything today so hopefully by Friday (or the coming days).

Currently on UC only (no others while on UC).

Kimmy87

As you get you UC and your child has been awarded DLA, you can claim the Disabled Child Element under UC which will be backdated to the DLA application date.

£156.11 if you get the lower rate

(an award of anything other than higher care DLA)

£487.58 if you get the higher rate

(an award of higher care DLA)

poppy123456

Does your UC include the LCWRA element for yourself? If it doesn't and the DLA award includes either mid or high rate care then you will be able to claim Carers element of UC for looking after them.

If it includes the LCWRA for you and your claiming UC with a partner, they will be able to claim carers element for your child, instead of you.

The same person can't receive both LCWRA and carers element at the same time.

If your UC includes any Transitional Protection this will erode when the additional elements are included so please be aware of that also.

honeypie65

Thank you for the advice. I do not get LCWRA or protection with my UC so I don’t have any extras. I just regular UC support.

When should I report my DLA award to UC? Should it be once I get the letter or should I report it now since I got the text?

Also will I need to back date anything for the DLA on the UC?

Kimmy87

You need to know what your child has been awarded, and date the change to the application date.

So you'll be able to claim both Carers Element and Disabled Child Element.

I know you report a change (caring for someone) for the CE, I'm not sure how you report to claim DCE.