Free printable PDF · 4 A4 pages
Evidence tracker for a child's DLA claim
Letters, reports and statements can support what you write on the DLA form. This free tracker sets out what the DWP booklet says to send and not to send, and gives you a table to keep track of what you asked for, what came back and what you sent.
The tracker follows the DLA form for a child under 16 used in England and Wales. In Scotland, new claims for children are Child Disability Payment, not DLA. In Northern Ireland, DLA for children is run by the Department for Communities (nidirect), with its own version of the form.
What is inside
What to send
The kinds of evidence the booklet lists, from therapy reports and clinic letters to diaries kept by family.
What not to send
The booklet's full list of what to leave out, from appointment letters to fact sheets.
How to send it
Copies only, your child's details on every page, and what to do while you wait for a report.
The tracker
A table for every piece of evidence (who from, date asked, date received, copy sent), with common starter rows and the key dates of your claim.
Get the tracker free
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Your tracker is ready
Print it on A4 and start with what you already have at home: clinic letters, reports and plans.
We also email you the link, so you can find it again.
Why it helps to track your evidence
The claim form says the DWP does not pay DLA for a child having a particular health condition or disability, but for the impact it has on them. So useful evidence describes what your child needs help with, not only what their condition is called.
The booklet that comes with the form lists the evidence you can send, including:
- reports or care or treatment plans from occupational therapists, GPs or consultants, social workers, learning disability support teams, district nurses or physiotherapists;
- reports, statements or diaries from carers or family members;
- hospital discharge or outpatient clinic letters, and test results from scans, diagnostic tests and hearing or vision tests;
- your child's current repeat prescription list.
Do not wait for every letter
Your claim starts on the date the form is received, or on the date you phoned for the claim pack if you return it within 6 weeks, and DLA cannot be backdated. If you are waiting for a report, say so at question 89, send what you already have with the form and post the rest later to Freepost DWP DLA Child.
Copies, with your child's details on every page
Send copies, never originals: the DWP cannot return them. Write your child's full name, date of birth and National Insurance number (if they have one) at the top of each page, so it can be linked to the claim. Do not send a CD, DVD, memory stick or any other electronic media.
Ask for function, not diagnosis
When you ask a professional for a letter, ask them to describe what your child needs help with, how often, how long it takes, what happens without it and how this compares with other children of the same age.
Evidence and form, side by side
Evidence works best when it backs up what the form says. See how one area of your child's DLA form reads when it is written question by question, the way the form asks for it. Free, no card.
Frequently asked questions
Is the evidence tracker free?
Yes. Enter your email address and the PDF is ready to download straight away. There is no payment and no card. We may send you occasional DLA guidance by email, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Should I send original letters?
No. Send copies only. The booklet that comes with the form says the DWP cannot return original documents.
What if I am still waiting for a report?
Do not hold the form back. Say at question 89 what you are waiting for, send what you already have with the form and post the rest later to Freepost DWP DLA Child, with your child's full name, date of birth and National Insurance number (if they have one) at the top of each page.
What should I not send?
The booklet lists appointment cards or letters, letters arranging hospital admissions, general information or fact sheets about the condition or its medication, information about tests your child is going to have, bus or train tickets and directions or maps for appointments. Do not send a CD, DVD or memory stick either.
Does my child need a diagnosis?
No. The claim form says that if your child does not have a diagnosis, you should still tell the DWP about their difficulties. So ask for evidence that describes what your child needs help with.