DLA Wait Times Autumn 2026

[Kirstylou91]

NC - New Claim
SD - Scan Date
R - Renewal
MR - Mandatory Reconsideration
COC - Change Of Circumstances

LRC - Low Rate Care
MRC - Middle Rate Care
HRC - High Rate Care

LRM - Low Rate Mobility
HRM - High Rate Mobility

A forum to discuss DLA wait times & any other advice or questions regarding DLA

My daughters NC was super fast this year sent forms off 16th March special tracked delivery, her SD was 3/6 had payment in my bank 10/6 rang up as couldn’t believe how fast it was decision was made on 7/6 💛

sent my sons renewal of Friday 25th September- let’s see how long renewals take 💛

Hi op I started a thread on here as it seemed very quiet and there were only a few of us on there. My dd is 15 and I finally sent off forms for NC after requesting them 13 times over the last 2 years. SD 24th August.

today is 5 weeks since SD. Heard so many variations timescales here and on Reddit.

Have u called to ask for an update as they can tell u if its in a holding que or with a decision maker or if a decision has been made 💛

NC scanned on 20/07. Rang today and no decision has been made yet. I’ve seen people with similar scan dates on FB groups getting decisions, but that doesn’t really mean anything, and just makes it more frustrating that I’m still waiting! Obviously I know it can be up to 25 weeks, was just hoping for a quicker decision!

You should hear soon all Iknow is they don’t do them
in order which is so frustrating, I sent my
sons renewal of Friday received the txt this afternoon which is super quick , normally takes a few weeks for them to scan it onto their system,
Renewal SD 28/6 💛

Hi so I rang yesterday for an update as I’m impatient and the lady was absolutely lovely and told me they’re not giving specific timescales out as super busy but to ring back in 3 weeks if I haven’t heard anything. She just said no decision made yet and I’m kicking myself that I didn’t ask her if it was with a DM or not yet.

the wait continues!

@beardotdo you’re about 4 weeks ahead of me and I’ve seen on other sites too about decisions from July and even early August so it’s frustrating.

i have read a few times that some people believe it’s area dependent but im not convinced. I thought it was just one centre dealing with all claims? We’re in the North West but don’t think it matters.

No it doesn’t matter the area, all new claims , renewals etc get put in a pile and a decison maker will pick a pile of forms up , won’t be in date order either Which is frustrating, hopefully won’t be waiting to long my SD for renewal is 28/9 💛

I sent our new claim form and 2 days later I got a text to say it had been received which was 10th August. I had to send 2 updated documents but by the 17th September everything was received and scanned awaiting a decision maker. I rang yesterday as I had a missed call and they said it’s now with a decision maker.

So I needed to know if it was just in the queue or with a decision maker so I rang today ( asked a question which I genuinely was unsure of ) and also asked where claim was in the system and it’s not with a DM yet so the wait continues!!

good luck to all waiting 😊

@Zoflorabore when was your claim submitted? We sent about 10 documents with our claim form. They seem to be dealing with June and July claims at the moment so not sure why ours is already with a decision maker. Hopefully you’ll hear soon.

They don’t do claim forms in date order, there handed a pile , I was very lucky this year my daughters NC it was scanned onto the system then 11 days later received payment in bank so it can literally take weeks or months it just depends really 💛

@Kirstylou91 Yeah ours was scanned within 10 days and then nothing until Wednesday when it was with a decision maker but I’m hoping to hear something soon 🤞

Yeahh u will hear soon 💛

My SD is 18th August, rang yesterday (1st October and they said it’s still in the queue

Is this a NC? 💛

Yes new claim x

It can change very quickly my daughters NC this year took 11 days from SD to have payment in my bank account- I’m now atm awaiting on my sons renewal , I called up last year regarding my sons NC and said was in a holding que then literally a day later a decision was made so i think it depends on the complexity of the case and on the DM 💛

A lady that lives near me said she got paid within 5 weeks and I was only a week behind her but I am currently on 6 weeks 3 days so I think it all depends 😩

@Stressedasmum2026 it looks like we’re 14 days behind you, SD is 24th August. To be honest I was expecting at least 6-8 weeks or more but I’m just being bloody impatient 😊

@Zoflorabore We are officially 8 weeks on Monday/Tuesday due to the Bank Holiday, and I am hoping for some news. But also have a friend and it took 13 weeks for her NC.

SD - 25th August - New claim

rang to check where it was at last week and was told in the queue for a decision maker.

Joining the thread, hopefully they are processed before 25week mark.

Hi everyone i did a COC 3rd June for high rate motobility under smi. Got declined as they said he was happy. Did a MR and had a call from a case handler on Friday. So hopefully they will have a decision this week.

Hi all, SD 19/08- almost 7 weeks here. The wait is excruciating, I need some good news ASAP! I sent 8 documents alongside the form, and will soon have a couple more letters to send as supporting evidence. Good luck to everyone waiting, please update with award notices/ pay drops 🌟

My SD is 18/08. I rang today and they told me it’s up to a 12 week wait