DLA WAIT TIMES 2026

[Emssxo]

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. ❤️

Did the school fill out the part about someone they know?

Which part sorry?
he was referred through the school to NHS for assessment. We are only claiming now after years of waiting for the assessment, had no idea you could claim at the referral time 🤦🏻‍♀️

The NHS psychologist that assessed my son also spoke with the school to assess how he is in the classroom. And now dla have apparently sent out a form for further evidence off the school - during school holidays- so no one will respond to that until next week at the earliest.

new claim - scan date 3rd July.
Rang yesterday and it wasn’t with a case manager. Just rang again today and been told it’s with a case manager but no decision made yet. Hopefully won’t be too long.

I’ve applied for my 2 year old who will be 3 in November. Health visitor letter, forms filled in by nursery supporting the claim, section 23 letter from HV alerting LA that child is likely to have special education needs and will need support when he starts full time school. Also an infant CAMHS referral saying he needs assessing and is on the wait list for appointment. I really hope I’ve wrote enough and sent enough evidence, but the not knowing is killing me. I wouldn’t mind being told to wait a few months if I knew what the decision would be, but I hate not being in control and being in limbo.

Do you mean the part on the application for dla that we completed? We didn’t have the school fill that in as they had already given evidence/statements with the full assessment. It mustn’t have been enough going by what we’ve just been told. Very frustrating x

On the dla form did school fill it in? X the part that someone else does

No, we didn’t get them to fill that in as the school and his teacher had already given evidence/statements for the NHS assessment. It was quite thorough in the assessment report we sent with the application. Obviously wasn’t enough though and wishing we’d had them fill it out as well now!

I think that's possibly why they've contacted them as it helps to have them fill that part out x

It seems likely. Very annoyed at myself for not getting them to do it. I just felt like I was pestering them to be honest and thought an NHS assessment would be enough.
At least I know what the hold up is now.
thanks x

I'm quite abit in front of you and as far as I'm aware no one has even been contacted yet x

awww I thought that might be the case. How old is your little one? I’m wondering if it’s an age thing x

i actually just managed to contact my sons teacher whilst she was in the school. They’ve not had any contact from dla.
unless it’s still on the way in the post, I don’t know what’s going on.
looking back at this thread, people have been told lots of conflicting info from dla when calling for updates.
What was your scan date? x

10th of June. Just rang and no updates. Yes I think it will be a letter in the post

Yes mine was a letter in the post and it took ages for it to arrive 😩

Were they done with you ringing each day?

I meant fine - autocorrect !

🤣 the guy on the phone today was very helpful. I was ringing to chase up some evidence that apparently got there last Monday but still hasn’t been scanned on to the system. I’m hoping the missing evidence doesn’t affect the decision - although I was originally confident I’d sent enough. The longer waiting, the longer I’m doubting my application

I’ve learned from personal experience, that the more information you give, the longer it takes. That could be just me though. My daughter kept doing more and more things that I didn’t include on my original application, so I called a few times to update them and I was waiting longer than others x

NC scan date 01/07

ive just called for an update and the guy on the phone said he ‘thinks’ it’s now with a decision maker 🤷🏻‍♀️

My scan date is the 10th of July. I called up on the 20th to see if they had my extra evidence, which they said they received that morning, and it was then waiting for a decision maker... not heard anymore. And dont want to call again. Hate the unknown.

We have the same scan date 😬 I sent extra evidence on Monday and just going to wait now. We go on holiday tomorrow so going to forget about it for ten days

Fingers crossed you’ll have an award letter sat on your doormat waiting for you when you get home!

Have a lovely holiday ☺️

I second this! Can’t wait to find out! Or you might get a bit of extra spending money for the kids when you’re away! X

I sent extra evidence so maybe that is making it slower! Her teacher was so slow to fill the form out so I had to send it after I’d sent the form 😬 then she was accepted for an assessment so had to send that in too. At least posting on here has given me a place to moan haha !

I’m sat here with my child on his 13th 💩 nappy within the hour, awaiting a DLA decision and thinking - this is why children with additional needs require that extra money. The amount of nappies we go through is ridiculous before you add up all of the extra care and other extra costs 😅

Bless you. It’s so hard isn’t it. I hope you get awarded soon x