DLA WAIT TIMES 2026

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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. ❤️

Hello all, my scan date was 5 weeks ago, I'm just wondering if it's to early to call for an update? I suffer with servere anxiety and intrusive thoughts and I have seen others say they got a text but their claim still got stuck somewhere else etc and I can't stop thinking this will be the case for my child. I have no issues with how long it will take just want to make sure it's moving in the right direction. Thanks everyone

Good luck to everyone waiting!!

That’s amazing news! Congratulations x

It’s worth a try. Especially if it puts your mind at rest a little x

How old are all your little ones? X

I called to get a date that they issued contact with the school - 31st of July - almost 4 weeks ago. Did the letter take that long for you also?

They couldnt tell me on the phone if it was a letter or an email, just the date. 4 weeks seems like a long time for a letter to arrive, even going by Royal Mail standards these days!

No it didn’t take that long. Maybe there’s nobody in the office manning the mail. That’s so frustrating for you. Annoyingly mine was sent over the October half term, so that delayed things too. I did get awarded. How old if your little one? X

His teacher was in the school yesterday and checked, no mail and no emails to her. Unless its gone to the headmaster or receptionist but its a tiny school - less than 100 children, it wouldnt just go missing. Very annoying indeed.

My son is 11. We've been waiting 3 years for his assessment before contacting dla as we didnt know you could potentially claim whilst waiting so now this extra wait is just rubbish. Sorry for the moan, I know its crap for everyone!

The guy i spoke to was really helpful and said he would send a message to the Decision Maker it is with to ask them to call me. He did say that he cant guarantee they actually will though 🙃so not holding my breath.

School mail also can get put aside due to schools being closed like on hold until they reopen so post do

Oops sent too soon, but it then all gets delivered in one go when the schools reopens

Im not sure if thats the case as his teacher said she checked through the mail. It could be though, thank you xx

That’s so annoying. Maybe they could send it again. I honestly don’t know why they don’t do things digitally. Would be so much easier and quicker

If you didn't name the teacher on the DLA form my guess is it would be sent to the head or office

You should inform them asap as you may receive additional money from UC which is called child element. Not sure if they still pay that with lower rate though

You should inform them asap as you may receive additional money from UC which is called disabled child element. Not sure if they still pay that with lower rate though

My daughter is 9. We sent the forms in June they were scanned and we had the text on 1st July. I am hoping to hear soon 😬

Have you had a payment

Did you hear anything else

Yh just been awarded lrm

so will do a MR how long does this usually take to look at

Has anyone with a new claim around the 9th July or after even heard anything back yet? Finally rung today for an update as haven't received a single bit of communication since sending it in and was told it was scanned onto the system July 9th and is still not with a decision maker. Is anyone else around the same sort of time? Xx

I sent my daughter's forms on June 22nd and got a text confirming receipt on July 6th, so close to your date. I've also now sent in a claim for my son and that was received August 14th.

What do people mean when they say their extra evidence has been scanned? Do you get another text? Wondering how you know it's been received.

We've not had anything else for my daughter since the text and it's 9.5 weeks since I returned the forms now, 7.5 weeks since they confirmed receipt. It's a lonely journey isn't it?

It's also one that I put off doing for a long time because I kept thinking it was for children who were worse off and struggling more. I think we'd all normalised what we deal with day to day in our family. When I did finally fill out the forms I think I included around 60 additional pages of evidence for both. SEN plans, statements, diagnostic reports, referrals, physio routines, adjustments in school etc and it kind of hit me then when I saw it all together.

Still waiting on my daughter's big report from the occupational therapy team now which has taken 12 weeks so far and should arrive any day now so when it does I'll give DLA a call to ask if it's too late to send more evidence and maybe I can glean where in the process her claim is.

You do need to contact Universal credit, I’m almost positive mobility only still awards the lower rate child element.

I can try find the guidance if you need it, but if you report the change they should be able to confirm it with you.

Not yet x

When I sent extra evidence I sent it signed for next day delivery so I know it has arrived. I need to call them to make sure it’s been added to her file. I had a text on the 1st July saying they’ve received the original form and it could be up to 25 weeks to decide. It’s been 8 weeks now so I guess we could still have a while.

I started a MR on 6th July, still waiting I was told no progress last week. I would get it logged on the phone asap, as they sit on a mandatory 1 month hold to allow time for evidence then apparently go into a queue for DM in submission date order. I still haven’t received my statement of reasons they said they were resending last week.
I would call enquiries which I think is option 4 and ask them for the reasons they can read them out to you, as well as send in writing. Then call to request a MR they will take details from you and submit straight away so the clock starts quicker. Make sure you then follow it up in writing in detail just send to the same address as the form asap.
I wrote quite a formal letter which ended up 6 pages long detailing why I disagreed with each point and linked it to my evidence and a detailed day and night care diary, I just did 4 days as that was 27 pages long. I sent it all 24hr tracked then gave it a couple of days and got them to confirm each page was scanned in. Hope this helps x

Sd 10th of June just rang and decision made yesterday but refusing to tell me anything 🙈