Disability Living Allowance

Disability Living Allowance for Children

Tax-free financial support for children under 16 with disabilities – up to £187.45 per week

Help with the Extra Costs of Caring for a Disabled Child

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is a tax-free benefit that helps with the extra costs of looking after a child who has a disability or health condition. It can provide between £29.20 and £187.45 per week, depending on your child's care and mobility needs.

DLA is not means-tested, so it doesn't matter how much you earn or what savings you have. The money is for you to use as you need – there are no restrictions on how you spend it.

Important: DLA is being replaced by Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for people aged 16 and over. Children under 16 can still claim DLA. When your child turns 16, they'll need to apply for PIP instead.

Who Can Claim DLA for Children?

You can claim DLA for a child if they're under 16 and have:

Difficulties with personal care (washing, dressing, eating, using the toilet)
Difficulties walking or getting around
A health condition or disability that means they need substantially more care or supervision than other children of the same age

You don't need a specific diagnosis to claim DLA – it's based on how the child's condition affects their daily life, not what their condition is called.

Key Point: You can claim DLA whether you're working or not, and regardless of your income or savings. DLA is for the child, not the parent or carer.

Basic Eligibility Rules

To claim DLA for a child, all of these must apply:

The child is under 16 years old
The child usually lives in England, Scotland, or Wales (different rules apply in Northern Ireland)
The child has needed extra care or supervision for at least 3 months
The child is expected to need this care for at least another 6 months
The child is not subject to immigration control

There are special rules if a doctor or medical professional has said the child might have 12 months or less to live. In these cases, the 3-month qualifying period doesn't apply, and you should apply under "special rules for terminal illness".

Scotland: If you live in Scotland, you need to apply for Child Disability Payment instead of DLA. The rates and eligibility are very similar, but it's administered by Social Security Scotland.

DLA Rates for 2025/26

DLA is made up of two components: the care component and the mobility component. Your child might qualify for one or both, depending on their needs.

Care Component

The care component helps with the extra care and supervision your child needs:

Rate	When It Applies	Weekly Amount
Lowest Rate	Child needs care for some of the day or night	£29.20
Middle Rate	Child needs frequent care during the day OR prolonged or repeated care at night	£73.90
Highest Rate	Child needs care during the day AND night, OR is terminally ill	£110.40

Mobility Component

The mobility component helps with the costs of moving around:

Rate	When It Applies	Weekly Amount
Lower Rate	Child aged 5+ needs guidance or supervision outdoors on unfamiliar routes	£29.20
Higher Rate	Child aged 3+ cannot walk, can only walk short distances, or has severe visual impairment	£77.05

Maximum Weekly Amount: If your child receives the highest rate care component (£110.40) AND the higher rate mobility component (£77.05), you'll receive £187.45 per week – that's £9,747.40 per year.

When Is DLA Paid?

DLA is usually paid every 4 weeks on a Tuesday directly into your bank or building society account. If your payment date falls on a bank holiday, you'll be paid before the bank holiday.

What Counts as Extra Care or Supervision?

The key question for DLA is: Does your child need substantially more care, attention, or supervision than other children of the same age who don't have a disability?

Care Needs That May Qualify

Personal care: Help with washing, bathing, dressing, eating, drinking, using the toilet, or taking medication
Supervision: Watching over your child to keep them safe from harm – for example, if they're unable to recognise danger, may wander off, or have challenging behaviour
Communication: Help communicating with other people if your child has speech or hearing difficulties
Encouragement and prompting: Helping your child do things they physically can do but need encouragement, supervision, or reminders to complete
Emotional support: In some circumstances, providing emotional support and reassurance if your child has severe anxiety or mental health difficulties

Mobility Needs That May Qualify

For lower rate mobility (aged 5+):

Your child needs someone to guide or supervise them when walking outdoors in unfamiliar places
This must be substantially more than a child of the same age without a disability would need

For higher rate mobility (aged 3+):

Your child cannot walk at all
Can only walk a very short distance without severe discomfort
The exertion required to walk would be dangerous to their health
They're severely sight impaired or blind
They're both deaf and blind
They have severe learning disabilities and very challenging behaviour (under specific criteria)

Remember: You don't need a diagnosis to claim. Many children with conditions like autism, ADHD, cerebral palsy, Down's syndrome, epilepsy, diabetes, or severe allergies qualify for DLA – but so do children whose condition hasn't been formally diagnosed yet.

How to Apply for DLA

Step 1: Contact DWP

Call the Disability Living Allowance helpline to request a claim form:

Telephone: 0800 121 4600
Textphone: 0800 121 4523
Monday to Friday: 9am to 5pm

The DWP will send you a claim form in the post. Make a note of the date you called – this is important for backdating your claim.

Step 2: Complete the Form

The DLA claim form is long and detailed. Take your time completing it – most people find it takes several hours spread over a few days.

Top Tips for Completing the Form:

Describe a typical bad day – don't undersell your child's difficulties
Compare with other children – explain how your child needs more help than others their age
Be specific – instead of "needs help getting dressed", say "I have to help put every item of clothing on, including doing up buttons and zips, which takes 15 minutes each morning"
Include night-time needs – if your child wakes at night needing care, mention this
Think about the whole day – from waking up to going to bed, what extra help does your child need?

Step 3: Include Supporting Evidence

While not essential, including evidence from healthcare professionals can strengthen your claim:

Letters from doctors, consultants, or specialists
Reports from physiotherapists, occupational therapists, or speech therapists
School reports or Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs)
Care plans or assessments from local authority children's services

Step 4: Return the Form

Return the completed form within 6 weeks of the date you first contacted DWP. If you do this, your DLA can be backdated to the date you called. If you return it later, you'll only be paid from the date the form is received.

Step 5: Wait for a Decision

DWP aim to make a decision within 12-16 weeks, though it can take longer. You probably won't need an assessment – most decisions are made based on the form and any evidence you provide.

If DWP needs more information, they may contact your child's doctor or arrange an assessment.

How DLA Affects Other Benefits

Claiming DLA for your child won't reduce your other benefits – in fact, it often increases them.

Universal Credit

If you receive Universal Credit, you'll get extra for your child:

Disabled child element: £158.76 per month if your child gets any rate of DLA
Severely disabled child element: £495.87 per month if your child gets the highest rate care component

Carer's Allowance

If your child receives the middle or highest rate care component, you may be able to claim Carer's Allowance (£83.30 per week) if you care for them for at least 35 hours per week.

Blue Badge

If your child receives the higher rate mobility component, they automatically qualify for a Blue Badge for disabled parking.

Motability Scheme

If your child receives the higher rate mobility component, you may be able to use it to lease a car, powered wheelchair, or scooter through the Motability Scheme.

Other Benefits

DLA can also increase:

Housing Benefit
Council Tax Support
Income Support
Pension Credit (if you're caring for a disabled child)

Renewing and Reviewing DLA

DLA awards are given for a fixed period or indefinitely, depending on your child's condition.

Fixed-Term Awards

If your child's DLA has an end date, DWP will send you a renewal form a few months before it ends. Complete and return this as soon as possible to avoid any gap in payments.

Reporting Changes

You must report any changes that might affect your child's DLA:

Their care or mobility needs change
They're admitted to hospital or a care home
They're away from home for more than 4 weeks
They go abroad for more than 13 weeks
Changes to personal details (name, address, bank details)

Call the DLA helpline (0800 121 4600) to report changes.

What Happens When Your Child Turns 16?

DLA for children stops when the child turns 16. Before their 16th birthday, DWP will contact you with information about claiming Personal Independence Payment (PIP) instead.

Important: PIP has different eligibility criteria and assessment processes than DLA. Not everyone who gets DLA will qualify for PIP, though many do. The DWP will invite your child to claim – you must respond within 4 weeks to avoid a break in payments.

Your child's DLA will continue until DWP makes a decision about their PIP claim. If they're awarded PIP, they'll receive one final DLA payment, then start receiving PIP.

Appointees: If you're an appointee for your child's DLA (managing their benefit claim on their behalf), this doesn't automatically transfer to PIP. You'll need to apply to be their PIP appointee when they claim.

For Adults Still Receiving DLA

If you're an adult over 16 still receiving DLA, you'll eventually need to claim PIP instead. However:

If you were born before 8 April 1948, you can continue receiving DLA and don't need to claim PIP
All other adults will be invited by DWP to claim PIP when their DLA award ends or when DWP reviews their claim
The transfer from DLA to PIP has been significantly delayed and is now expected to continue until at least 2028

Important: Don't apply for PIP until DWP invites you to do so. If you apply early, your DLA will stop immediately, and you could end up with less money. Wait for your invitation letter.

If you reach State Pension age and your DLA ends, you should apply for Attendance Allowance instead (not PIP).

Common Questions

Do I need a diagnosis to claim DLA?

No. DLA is based on how your child's condition affects them, not what it's called. However, having a diagnosis and medical evidence can help support your claim.

Can I claim if my child only needs help sometimes?

Yes, if your child's needs vary, explain this in your application. Describe both good days and bad days, and explain how often the bad days occur.

Will DLA affect my other benefits?

No, DLA won't reduce your existing benefits. In most cases, it will increase them through additional elements or premiums.

Can I claim if my child goes to special school?

Yes, you can claim DLA even if your child attends a special school. The benefit is about the care they need at home and in the community, not just at school.

What if my claim is refused?

If your claim is refused, you can ask for a mandatory reconsideration. You have one month from the decision date to do this. If you're still not satisfied, you can appeal to an independent tribunal. Seek advice from Citizens Advice or a welfare rights adviser.

Can I spend DLA on anything?

Yes, there are no restrictions on how you spend DLA. It's meant to help with the extra costs of disability, but you decide what those costs are for your family.

Getting Help with Your Claim

Claiming DLA can be complicated. Free help is available:

Citizens Advice – Free, confidential advice and help completing forms. Visit www.citizensadvice.org.uk or call 0800 144 8848.
Contact (charity for families with disabled children) – Specialist helpline for families: 0808 808 3555 or www.contact.org.uk
Disability Rights UK – Information and advice: www.disabilityrightsuk.org
Carers UK – Support for parents caring for disabled children: 0808 808 7777 or www.carersuk.org
Your local authority – Many councils have welfare rights officers who can help with benefit claims

Don't Give Up: Many families find the DLA form overwhelming and give up. Remember, thousands of families successfully claim DLA every year. Take it one question at a time, and don't be afraid to ask for help.

Disclaimer: This information is a guide only and should not replace professional advice. Benefit rules are complex and can change. For personalised advice about your situation, contact Citizens Advice, Contact, or a welfare rights adviser. Always check the latest information on GOV.UK before making decisions.

Useful Resources and Contacts

DLA Helpline: 0800 121 4600 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)

Textphone: 0800 121 4523

Citizens Advice: www.citizensadvice.org.uk or 0800 144 8848

Contact (for families with disabled children): 0808 808 3555 or www.contact.org.uk

Disability Rights UK: www.disabilityrightsuk.org

GOV.UK DLA Information: www.gov.uk/disability-living-allowance-children

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