Disability allowance is a way of attaining regular money support for many people in the UK. But financial needs are many, and need more funds than what one receives through the allowance. In such a case, it becomes necessary to get a loan. However, the question is how much disability benefit one should receive to qualify for a loan.
An insight to help you take an informed decision
If you are also on the same query in mind, the guide below is for you. When you have uncertain financial circumstances, it becomes vital to gather the necessary information. That is the first and foremost step to know how to qualify for loans that accept disability benefits.
What is disability allowance?
A disability allowance or benefit is a government-backed benefit that helps people pay for extra costs caused by disability. However, it has now been replaced by Personal Independence Payment; some people still receive it. This mainly includes existing claimants and children.
Is DLA considered during the loan process?
Yes, some alternative or direct lenders consider DLA as a regular source of income. They understand that the benefit provides support to the beneficiary consistently.
Lenders consider it as the total income of the fund seeker. Especially when the borrower is not earning from any other source, earning from the benefit is the only income. That is checked to assess the creditworthiness of the applicant.
However, not all lenders accept it as the total income. Some take it as partial income, and you need to have another income source.
DLA Payment Amounts in the UK
The Disability Living Allowance is divided into two categories.
- Care component
- Mobility component
The amount is decided as per the severity of the beneficiary. Here is a table explaining the amount as per severity level.
| Component | Severity Level | Weekly Amount |
| Care component | Lowest | £30.45 |
| Care component | Middle | £77.70 |
| Care component | Higher | £115.60 |
| Mobility component | Lower | £30.35 |
| Mobility component | Higher | £90.00 |
How does the DLA amount affect your loan size?
The DLA amount directly affects the loan amount a lender approves for you. This is due to the affordability check. Money you receive through the benefit is compared against your essential expenses.
If your expenses are high, the lender approves a smaller amount. If a small part of the allowance is used for expenses, the lender can rely more on your repayment ability.
Are loans available if you receive DLA but have no job?
Yes, some lenders may consider your application. However, this is only likely in case of a small amount and short-term loans.
However, approval is easier in case of the following conditions.
- Additional income
- Co-applicant
- Low debt level
- Stable banking history
For what types of loans is DLA accepted as income?
As you read above, the disability benefit is accepted only for short-term loans. Following are the loan options.
- Personal loans – The most popular loan solution comes with easy conditions and demands the basic credit purchase power.
- Bad credit loans – This loan may come with a higher rate. You already have bad credit, and DLA is not a strong income source.
- Guarantor loans – If someone else from friends and family can guarantee your repayments, attaining funds is easier. But the guarantor should have a good credit score, regular income and a low debt-to-income ratio.
- Credit union loans – These are offered by member-owned organisations for small expenses at an affordable rate.
One thing is sure: you need to be prepared for less flexibility on repayment plans. Also, in case of a poor credit situation, the rates can be high.
Factors considered other than Disability Living Allowance
Along with your income from DLA, other financial factors too are important in the approval decision. Hence, don’t think that you have only the income factor to take care of.
Work on the following aspects as well, if you need the loan approval. It is not complicated; financial self-discipline should be visible in your financial documents. Read below to know how.
- Bank statement – Keep a clean bank statement, which means having the following things in your banking record.
- Controlled spending
- Regular income deposit
- No recurring overdraft usage
- No or fewer gambling transactions
- Credit score – A good credit score means you manage debts responsibly. A poor score shows pending or delayed repayments. This proves you are financially irresponsible.
Ways to improve credit score
- Avoid missing payments
- Pay bills on time
- Keep a low credit utilisation ratio
- Get registered on the electoral roll
Apply with accurate and complete information
Not applying with accurate information can make it vital to get approved. Wrong information in the application can make lenders reject your application right away.
Never hide anything about your personal finances, whether income, expenses or debts. Already, digitised loan procedures include online verification.
Technically, you cannot hide any information. Lenders pull all your information from credit reference agencies. Hiding your realistic details is considered fraud. Never try this, as your account may get blacklisted.
Check credit report before applying
Analyse your credit report before submitting an application for a loan to check for errors. There should not be any errors in your credit report, as that can affect your credit score.
Wrong spelling of your name, wrong address information, incorrectly reported credit accounts, and other mistakes can affect your credit score. Even if you are not applying for a loan, it is always advisable to check your report regularly.
The final thought….
You need to follow the affordability conditions precisely. Whether you apply for personal loans or bad credit personal loans online, strengthen your credit purchase power. That is the only practical way to make loan approval possible. This should not be as complicated as rocket science.
After all, loan companies too have to mitigate their risk. This is why they check repayment ability. Lending rules do not allow them to approve funds to an applicant with no ability to repay funds. Therefore, you better focus on the necessary factors while applying. That should be sufficient to borrow funds.
Sarah Jones is a seasoned financial writer with over a decade of experience covering personal finance loans, and dedicated to provide the best lending solutions to the clients. Known for translating complex financial topics into accessible insights, Sarah contributes to leading loan providers like Arbitrageloans and contributes to the company’s growth via professional writing and loan guidance. She holds a degree in economics and is passionate about helping aspirants with tools to make informed loan decisions. She also loves to explore the world and its natural beauty. Sarah believes financial literacy is the base of legitimate lending and borrowing. She strives to make it understandable for all.
