Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children may help with the extra costs of looking after someone who:

is under 16
has difficulties walking or needs much more looking after than a child of the same age who does not have a disability

You can claim this support if you are work or out of work

You can get support for Caring for a child, the amount of support you get depends on how frequently they need supervision and has three different levels – LOWER, MIDDLE, HIGH.

You can get support for Mobility to help the child get around, again the amount of support you get depends on how much help the child needs to be mobile and the level of discomfort they have – LOWER, MIDDLE, HIGH.

With any award of Benefit you must report any changes of the child's circumstances as soon as they change.

Each year all benefits are subject to uprating in April, this means the amounts paid are increased. Please check the Governments DLA webpage (opens link in new window).

Some new families don't realise they can claim DLA, but it can make such a huge difference.

DLA can be paid from the start of your claim. It cannot be backdated. Your claim will start on the date the form is received or the date you call the enquiry line (if you return the claim pack within 6 weeks).

You’ll usually get a decision letter about 8 weeks (40 working days) after your form is received. The letter will tell you when you’ll get your first payment.

To claim DLA for a child you need to be their parent or look after them as if you’re their parent.

To apply you can either got to Gov.uk (opens link in new window) to print off and complete a claim form or you can phone the helpline and ask for a printed form.

Disability Living Allowance helpline (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)

Telephone: 0800 121 4600
Textphone: 0800 121 4523

Relay UK (opens link in new window)(if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 121 4600

Video relay service (opens link in new window) for British Sign Language (BSL) users

Contact has a page dedicated to providing up to date advice about DLA, which is written especially for parents & carers of disabled children.

An overview of the benefit

How to make a claim

After you have claimed

When a child turns 16

Useful links

DLA Advice - From contact