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⚠️ Evidence-organising tool only. This is not benefits advice and not a guarantee of any DLA outcome. The DWP makes the decision. Full disclaimer
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DLA Care Diary — 2 Weeks of Evidence That Wins Claims

The strongest evidence the DWP looks for is a real-world care diary. This tool walks you through 14 days of structured logging, then generates a properly formatted PDF to attach to your DLA application.

Privacy first: Everything you type stays in this browser. Nothing is sent to SENDPath or any third party. Export to PDF or text before clearing your browser data, or you'll lose your diary.

Set up your diary

Tell us a little about your child and pick the day your diary starts. The DWP recommends a continuous 14-day window.

Why a diary helps. The DLA1A form gives small boxes that don't capture how relentless care really is. A diary shows the day-to-day pattern: night wakes, repeated prompting, supervision you provide every minute that other parents don't. DWP decision-makers consistently say a real-world diary is the single piece of evidence that most often turns a refusal into an award.
What the DWP looks for:
  • Frequency — how often the care happens (e.g. "5 night wakes per week")
  • Duration — how long it takes each time (e.g. "45 minutes to settle")
  • Comparison — how it differs from a non-disabled child of the same age
  • The worst day, not the best — write about typical bad days, not the rare easy ones
  • Specific examples — "wouldn't put coat on, missed school bus" beats "had a meltdown"
— Day — of 14
Today: 0 entries logged · 0 minutes of extra care

Add an entry

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Entries for this day

No entries yet for this day. Add your first one above.

Your 14-day diary at a glance

0Total entries
0Minutes of care
0Days with entries
0Avg entries / day

14-day overview

Click a day to jump to it. Red = 6+ entries, Amber = 1–5, Grey = empty.

Export your diary

Once you've finished logging, generate a PDF to attach to your DLA1A form. Print it and post it with your application, or send it electronically if your form allows.

Wipes everything from your browser. Export first if you want to keep it.

Tips for a strong diary

  • Honesty is critical. Don't exaggerate, but don't filter either. The DWP can spot a sanitised diary a mile off.
  • Worst day, not best. The form asks about typical bad days. If you've normalised three night wakes, write three night wakes.
  • Specific times and durations matter. "23:14 — woke crying, 40 minutes to resettle" is far stronger than "bad night".
  • Compare to a non-disabled child of the same age. A 7-year-old shouldn't need help dressing. A 10-year-old shouldn't need a parent in the bathroom.
  • Don't filter the things you've normalised. If you cut food into specific shapes, write it down. If you check on them every 20 minutes overnight, write it down.
  • Use identity-first language. "Autistic child" not "child with autism" — the DWP doesn't care, but autistic adults overwhelmingly prefer it.
More help. Read the full DLA guide for autistic children for example phrases, rate breakdowns and what to write in the form itself. Use the DLA eligibility checker for a rough indication before you apply.