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Here you'll find advice from parents and teachers on special needs education.

DLA WAIT TIMES 2026

577 replies

Emssxo · 06/06/2026 22:14

Hi everyone 👋

I thought I’d make a post in case it helps any other parents and also because I’d love to find some people to go through this waiting period with.

My eldest son (now 7) had his original DLA form received on 05/04/2024. He was awarded Middle Rate Care and Low Rate Mobility on 02/08/2024 until February 2026.

His renewal form was then sent off on 08/12/2025 and we received a decision on 14/01/2026, with the same awards continuing until 2028.

I’ve now submitted my 5-year-old son’s first DLA claim. It was sent signed for and received on 28/05/2026. I haven’t had confirmation that it’s been scanned onto the system yet, so the waiting game begins all over again.

As a single mum to two boys, I always find this process incredibly overwhelming. Sitting and writing pages about all the things your child struggles with and can’t do compared to other children their age is heartbreaking, even when you know you’re simply being honest. The forms take so much emotional energy.

When I applied for my eldest in 2024, I actually met some lovely parents through groups like this and still speak to some of them now, so I thought I’d reach out again.

If you’re currently waiting for a decision, I would really appreciate it if any parents can please comment with when your form was received and how long you’ve been waiting. I’d also be really grateful to hear if anyone has had a recent decision in 2026 and what current wait times seem to be.

Wishing everyone the best of luck with their claims. ❤️

OP posts:
NewBlueOP · 21/08/2026 13:15

Leannelln · 21/08/2026 12:23

My scan date was 30th June and just called and it's with a named case manager now so hopefully not long

Mine was scanned 01-07 so hopefully mine will also be with a case manager soon too.

Leannelln · 21/08/2026 13:15

Have you called today?

NewBlueOP · 21/08/2026 13:22

Leannelln · 21/08/2026 13:15

Have you called today?

Me? Sorry I get confused on here with who the comments are to 🤣 I called yesterday and it hadn’t been allocated then

MrsW1212 · 21/08/2026 13:43

Leahjk1991 · 21/08/2026 10:47

Called this morning my decision was made yesterday 20th but they wouldn't tell me anything apart from letter in post so think my sons claim has been declined which I'm really upset about

I honestly don’t understand why they do this. They’ve always told me straight away when I’ve asked. Maybe try one more time and hope you get a helpful person this time x

Leannelln · 21/08/2026 13:43

Yeah you lol. Erm I'd give a call again on Monday or Tuesday x

MrsW1212 · 21/08/2026 13:44

Leahjk1991 · 21/08/2026 11:27

Tried and he different person on phone wouldn't tell me anything he actually said the person before but a note to say I called and they told me letter in post. I asked him few times could he not just tell me if accept or rejected and he said no. All I can see if it was accept money will be on back by Wednesday so to look out for that so I'm really not hopeful

I’d say that sounds hopeful! Your little one is nearly 2? Same as mine, but she’s not non verbal. Just doesn’t say much. Mainly points and groans x

NewBlueOP · 21/08/2026 13:46

How long after a decision til the money is in the bank?

NewBlueOP · 21/08/2026 13:52

Leannelln · 21/08/2026 13:43

Yeah you lol. Erm I'd give a call again on Monday or Tuesday x

I’ll call on Tuesday as we go away Wednesday so hopefully we will know more by then. Does anyone know how long the case worker spend on each form?

Leannelln · 21/08/2026 14:13

I'm not sure I wondering this too x

NewBlueOP · 21/08/2026 14:28

Leannelln · 21/08/2026 14:13

I'm not sure I wondering this too x

I looked online apparently they spend 30-60 mins on each form ! That’s crazy. I don’t think they will even read all what I sent in that time

WaitingWondering · 21/08/2026 15:52

Emssxo · 21/08/2026 01:32

UPDATE – 21/08/26 😭❤️
I honestly can’t believe I’m finally updating this thread with some good news!
My youngest son’s first DLA claim was received on 28/05/26. I rang on 01/07 and was told they definitely had it but it still hadn’t been scanned onto the system. After that I just kept waiting and waiting with no acknowledgement, reference number or scan date.
Then on Monday 17/08, almost 12 weeks after they received it, I finally rang again because I was getting really worried. The man I spoke to told me the form hadn’t been lost but had been sitting in what he called a “white queue” waiting to be registered. He manually did something while I was on the phone to get it registered and told me I should receive a letter within around a week. I came off the phone relieved it wasn’t lost, but also feeling sick thinking I’d waited nearly 12 weeks just for it to be registered and that the actual decision wait might only just be beginning.
Then today, 21/08, completely out of nowhere, a backdated DLA payment appeared in my bank 😭😭 I still haven’t received the decision letter so obviously I’m waiting for that before saying anything is 100% confirmed, based on the amount and the dates it works out exactly as Middle Rate Care and Lower Rate Mobility, backdated from 28th May but I still need the letter just to confirm my maths🤦🏼‍♀️.
I’m honestly in shock. On Monday I thought we could still have months left to wait and now it looks like a decision had actually been made. I’ve spent the whole waiting period second guessing everything I wrote on the form and worrying that I’d explained his needs badly or missed something important, so the relief is huge.
For anyone whose claim is still waiting to be scanned or registered, I really wanted to come back and update because mine seems to have gone from being stuck in that queue to a payment landing just four days after I rang. So please don’t automatically assume that once it gets registered your whole decision wait starts again from the beginning.
I’ll update again when the actual award letter arrives and confirms everything properly. Thank you so much to everyone who has commented on this thread over the last couple of months and shared their own waits with me. It genuinely made the whole process feel a lot less lonely ❤️
And please don’t feel like because I’ve had an update now that this thread has to stop here — I really hope everyone feels comfortable carrying on using it to share their own updates, wait times, decisions, questions or just to have a little moan when the waiting gets too much 😂❤️ I started it because I wanted somewhere we could all go through the waiting together, so I’d genuinely love for people to keep updating here.
I really hope everyone still waiting gets the awards they deserve very soon 🤞🏻❤️

So glad it all worked out for you in the end 😊And thanks for making this thread. It's really helped to feel I'm not the only one waiting. ❤️

Mummyof2under4 · 22/08/2026 07:03

Leahjk1991 · 21/08/2026 10:47

Called this morning my decision was made yesterday 20th but they wouldn't tell me anything apart from letter in post so think my sons claim has been declined which I'm really upset about

Sometimes they can be abit funny with telling people depending on who answers the phone. Fingers crossed for you. I’ve heard a good trick to see is to ring and press the option 4 I believe and ask when the next payment date is. Obviously if they tell you a date you know you’re been awarded. What was your scan date? X

Mummyof2under4 · 22/08/2026 07:04

Sorry never mind I just saw your scan date! X

NewBlueOP · 22/08/2026 10:34

Mummyof2under4 · 22/08/2026 07:04

Sorry never mind I just saw your scan date! X

Do they work over the weekend ?

Mummyof2under4 · 22/08/2026 14:14

NewBlueOP · 22/08/2026 10:34

Do they work over the weekend ?

I’m not totally sure! Xx

Lynseyxx · 22/08/2026 17:20

NewBlueOP · 22/08/2026 10:34

Do they work over the weekend ?

Yes th

Lynseyxx · 22/08/2026 17:22

NewBlueOP · 22/08/2026 10:34

Do they work over the weekend ?

Yes I think they do. My sisters claim was awarded on 18th July that was a Saturday and my son was awarded on a Sunday. X

NewBlueOP · 23/08/2026 17:01

Lynseyxx · 22/08/2026 17:22

Yes I think they do. My sisters claim was awarded on 18th July that was a Saturday and my son was awarded on a Sunday. X

Oh thanks for letting me know. This will be my 8th week waiting 🫣 I am sending off additional evidence tomorrow I’ll do it next day delivery and tracked and hope that it is added before they look at the form! We go on holiday on Wednesday so I was hoping to have a decision by then so I could stop thinking about it for a bit !!!

Lynseyxx · 23/08/2026 17:11

NewBlueOP · 23/08/2026 17:01

Oh thanks for letting me know. This will be my 8th week waiting 🫣 I am sending off additional evidence tomorrow I’ll do it next day delivery and tracked and hope that it is added before they look at the form! We go on holiday on Wednesday so I was hoping to have a decision by then so I could stop thinking about it for a bit !!!

I was lucky my extra evidence was received after the award. So wasn’t needed but all I put in was referral letter so was shocked xx

NewBlueOP · 23/08/2026 18:32

Lynseyxx · 23/08/2026 17:11

I was lucky my extra evidence was received after the award. So wasn’t needed but all I put in was referral letter so was shocked xx

How long were you waiting after you sent it? X

Lynseyxx · 23/08/2026 18:46

NewBlueOP · 23/08/2026 18:32

How long were you waiting after you sent it? X

That one was just under 5 weeks xx

MrsW1212 · 24/08/2026 08:32

A new week! Let’s hope we get lots of good news this week 🤞🏻

Leannelln · 24/08/2026 09:09

I'm currently calling now to see where there are with my claim 8 weeks tomorrow been waiting

MrsW1212 · 24/08/2026 09:11

Leannelln · 24/08/2026 09:09

I'm currently calling now to see where there are with my claim 8 weeks tomorrow been waiting

Keep us posted! I’m 7 weeks on Wednesday x

Leahjk1991 · 24/08/2026 09:14

I come with good news! Called this morning and actually a lovely lady told me
is award! His been award MRC until July 2028! So pleased with this I did think he was looking more towards the HRC but I'm just happy his been awarded and now his money can be put away to be used to support his needs and future. Fingers crossed everyone gets news this week