Disability Living Allowance for children
What is it?
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is tax-free cash help towards extra costs faced by families with a disabled child. You can get DLA for your child if:
- they have a physical or mental disability (or both); and
- their disability is severe enough for them to need more help or supervision than would be expected for a child of their age, and/or they have difficulties walking; and
- they are under 16.
DLA can be paid for adults - see our Disability Living Allowance page.
DLA can be paid as well as other state benefits and it does not matter if you have savings or other income. In fact, receiving DLA for a child may increase your entitlement to other benefits such as Income Support, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.
Does my child qualify?
To qualify for DLA, your child must:
- satisfy the residence and presence tests, and not be subject to immigration control; and
- have needed help with personal care or supervision or mobility because of their disability for at least 3 months and will need the help for the next 6 months; (or they have a terminal illness); and
- meet the conditions for personal care, supervision or mobility below (or they have a terminal illness).
Personal care can include your child needing assistance (over and above what would normally be expected of a child of their age) with:
- washing or bathing
- dressing/undressing
- using the toilet
- eating
- using stairs
- getting in/out of bed
- communicating with people
- using special equipment.
You can claim DLA for personal care for your child when they are 3 months old, if their needs are severe enough.
Supervision means that someone should be with your child to make sure that they stay safe (over and above what would normally be expected for a child of their age). For example,
- they have a sight or hearing impediment
- they might accidentally cause harm to themselves
- they are at risk of falling, or losing consciousness.
Mobility can include:
- they cannot walk at all
- they can only walk a very short distance before having to stop, because of pain or breathlessness
- they can walk but need someone with them to guide or supervise them (over and above what would normally be expected for a child of their age).
Your child must be at least 3 years old to qualify for any mobility component.
You may get DLA for your child even if you are not currently getting the help you need.
For an easy way to find out which benefits might apply to you and your circumstances go to What can I claim?
The Benefits Maximisation Service can provide personal advice on what you may be entitled to and help you make a claim. For more information go to Benefits Maximisation Service.
How much is it?
There are three rates of the care component of DLA.
Lowest rate £17.75 a week
You may be able to get this if your child:
- needs help with personal care or supervision for a portion of the day (for example, when getting up and going to bed, but not during the day).
Middle rate £44.85 a week
You may be able to get this if your child needs:
- help with personal care or supervision throughout the day only; or
- help with personal care or supervision during the night only; or
- someone with them when they are on dialysis.
Higher rate £67.00 a week
You may be able to get this if your child:
- needs help with personal care or supervision throughout the day and also during the night; or
- has a terminal illness.
There are two rates of the mobility component:
Lower rate £17.75 a week
You may be able to get this if your child has no problems physically walking but needs someone with them when they are outdoors (over and above what would normally be expected for a child of their age). For example:
- they are blind or partially sighted
- they have learning or behavioral difficulties.
Your child must be at least 5 years old to quality for the lower rate.
Highest rate £46.75
You may be able to get this if your child:
- cannot walk at all
- can only walk a very short distance before having to stop (for example because of pain or breathlessness).
How do I apply?
You can get a claim form:
- by phoning the Benefit Enquiry Line on 0800 88 22 00. People with speech or hearing problems using a text phone can dial 0800 24 33 55
- from advice centres like Citizens Advice Bureaus; or
- from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) web site. You should look at the section for 'disabled people and carers'.
You can claim DLA on-line. The on-line service is available at www.dwp.gov.uk. You should look at the section for 'disabled people and carers'. Or, go to www.direct.gov.uk/disability.
It is important that you give as much information as possible about the help you need, even if you do not currently get that help. The Benefits Maximisation Service can help you to complete a claim form.
The decision is made by a Decision Maker at the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP). However, they may write to your doctor or specialist for information. They may also arrange for a doctor to visit you at home to examine your child.
Claims for children who are terminally ill should be decided urgently. These claims have "Special Rules". The same claim pack is used but you also have to provide a statement from your doctor, called a DS1500 report, confirming the terminal illness. Benefit should be paid straight away at the higher rate care component. The mobility component may also be paid if you can show your child has problems getting around - if this is the case you should also complete the mobility part of the claim pack.
What if I am not satisfied with the decision?
If you are refused benefit or think it should have been paid at a higher rate you can write asking for a revision within one month from the date on the decision. This means that a different Decision Maker will look at your claim again.
It is very important that you reply within one month, as you may not be able to challenge the decision otherwise.
If you are still unsatisfied once the revision has taken place you can ask to have your case heard by an independent appeal tribunal. This usually has to be on a form called a GL24, which is available from any DWP office. You can also ask the DWP to post one to you. Again, you must make your appeal within one month of the date of the revision.
Our Benefit Maximisation Service can help you with revisions and appeals.
What if my circumstances change?
If you feel your child's condition has deteriorated, or you have another condition which means they need more help, you can ask for your benefit to be revised.
Warning - When you ask for a revision the Decision Maker can reconsider the whole claim. This means that you could lose benefit. It is important to get advice before asking for your current benefit to be looked at again. The Benefits Maximisation Service can provide advice and guidance as to the strength of your existing award, and any risks in applying for a higher award.
For an easy way to find out which benefits might apply to you and your circumstances go to What can I claim?
The Benefits Maximisation Service can provide personal advice on what you may be entitled to and help you make a claim. For more information go to Benefits Maximisation Service.
Disclaimer
Although every effort is made to ensure the information on these pages is accurate and up to date, it should not be treated as a complete and authoritative statement of the law.