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. ❤️

Scan date 30th June Birmingham area still waiting for decision on new claim as any one else got roughly same scan date and heard anything yet?

My scan date was 24th June for a NC. Not heard anything yet, Kent based. Tempted to phone tomorrow to see where it's at. I'm worried I sent too much info with his application - it cost me a tenner to send it all. Could it delay my application sending more than maybe needed? I was just so conscious of making sure I covered all bases.

I have the same scan date and was still waiting to go to a decision maker when I called last week, I also sent lots of additional evidence, diary’s etc… I’d like to think the more evidence the better.
it seems people with a scan date of 17th are been accepted so hopefully only another 1-2 weeks for our decision

That's what I'm hoping that the more we send the better, I ended up sending his clinical psychologist report, educational psychologist report, CPOMs, risk assessment from school, statements from myself and others, sleep diaries, sensitivity screener, dyslexia screener, EHCP.

Hopefully you're right and it's just a couple more weeks. The waiting is so stressful. Especially after the process of gathering all the evidence. I'll let you know if mines is anywhere tomorrow!

Nothing 😔x

I'm week after you hopefully now long till they get to us x

I hope so let me know if you hear any thing n I'll keep you updated if I hear anything to 🤞 xx

Ye I will I hate waiting xx

Definitely give them a call for an update, I spoke to them on option 4 last week and they where happy to help :)

Tried to call earlier, I think the one I spoke to was clearly exhausted with being asked on updates 😂 she just said they don't need any more info and they can't provide an update. Bit bummed out that they couldn't give me any form of update like if it's with a DM yet

no way, did you go through to option 4? I’d defo try again, when I called last week I said I wanted to know where my application was at as I wanted to send something else but didn’t want it to be a waste of time that seemed to work lol

Hi ladies just a update my sons dla claim for dla scan date 24th June. I've rang for another update today using option 4 she gave me so much more information than they would give me last week. Its now with a case manger, so fingers crossed we all should start hearing of them soon.

What's this for a new claim x

Hi yes it's for a new claim.x

I have just sent my daughters claim off. I did my sisters a few weeks back and she sent it tracked, she had money in her bank just 9 days after! I'm north east, same as her I hope it's quick and not months like my other child xx

Tried again this morning, definitely used option 4 this time! They were really nice, they said that it's not with a case worker yet unfortunately 😞 but said to send anything else I have over if I want

Said exact same to me yesterday, said it was in a holding que whatever that means 🙈 hopefully won’t be too long now, the unknown is driving me mad

Hi 👋🏻

new claim scan date was 1st July.

I’ve just called and asked if I could send in more evidence and they said yes as it’s not with a case manager yet.

I was asked for my child’s birth certificate mid July and that was only scanned on 30th July

Do you no if yours is being looked at yet xxx

Have you received a decision yet?

Hi no I haven't received a decision yet. I'm planning on calling again on Friday just to see if if there's any movement on it.

There was an appeal for mine running in the background and I put in a new claim as had loads of supporting evidence now specialists have finally listened where the evidence wasn’t there before. The DLA had not responded to the tribunal request for their information and reason for their decision not to award anything. I phoned up today and was told that the appeal may have impacted the new claim moving through the system, it hadn’t been looked and the lady I spoke to is going to refer it onto another team. I’m going to chase in a couple of weeks to find out what is going on. Has this happened to anyone else or does anyone know what’s going on? thanks

i have done the same… I have an appeal but put in a new claim! My scan date is 22/06 haven’t heard anything yet. Hopefully that’s not the case and you get a decision soon.

sd for my sons DLA renewal 07.7.26 had text on on that date saying they received forms good luck everyone who waiting

Hi everyone
Waiting for my daughter’s new claim
to to be processed. I phoned for the forms on 26th MAy and have scan date of 15th June. As of last Friday her claim was still in a queue.

Also waiting for my son’s renewal. His award ends 13th November and his renewal was scanned 23rd July.

Good luck to you all and how our kids get the awards they deserve!