Disability Living Allowance ( DLA ) for children may help with the extra costs of looking after a child 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 They will need to meet all the eligibility requirements . The DLA rate is between £23.60 and £151.40 a week and depends on the level of help the child needs.

DLA rates for children

Disability Living Allowance ( DLA ) for children is a tax-free benefit made up of 2 components (parts). The child might qualify for one or both components. Care component Care component Weekly rate Lowest £23.60 Middle £59.70 Highest £89.15 Mobility component Mobility component Weekly rate Lower £23.60 Higher £62.25 How DLA for children is paid DLA is usually paid every 4 weeks on a Tuesday. If your payment date is on a bank holiday, you will usually be paid before the bank holiday. After that you’ll continue to get paid as normal. All benefits, pensions and allowances are paid into your bank, building society or credit union account . Extra help You might qualify for Carer’s Allowance if you spend at least 35 hours a week caring for a child who gets the middle or highest care rate of DLA .

Usually, to qualify for Disability Living Allowance ( DLA ) for children the child must: be under 16 - anyone over 16 must apply for Personal Independence Payment ( PIP ) need extra looking after or have walking difﬁculties be in Great Britain, a European Economic Area ( EEA ) country or Switzerland when you claim - there are some exceptions, such as family members of the Armed Forces have lived in Great Britain for 2 of the last 3 years, if over 3 years old be habitually resident in the UK, Ireland, Isle of Man or the Channel Islands not be subject to immigration control The process is different in Northern Ireland . There are some exceptions to these conditions if the child is living in or coming from an EEA country or Switzerland . You can claim DLA for children if you’re in or out of work. Children under 3 A child under 6 months must have lived in Great Britain for at least 13 weeks. A child aged between 6 months and 3 years must have lived in Great Britain for at least 26 of the last 156 weeks. The rules on residence do not normally apply if a child is terminally ill. The child’s disability or health condition The child’s disability or health condition must mean at least one of the following apply: they need much more looking after than a child of the same age who does not have a disability they have difficulty getting about They must have had these difficulties for at least 3 months and expect them to last for at least 6 months. If they’re terminally ill (that is, not expected to live more than 6 months), they do not need to have had these difficulties for 3 months. Care component The rate the child gets depends on the level of looking after they need, for example: lowest rate - help for some of the day middle rate - frequent help or constant supervision during the day, supervision at night or someone to help while they’re on dialysis highest rate - help or supervision throughout both day and night, or they’re terminally ill Mobility component The rate the child gets depends on the level of help they need getting about, for example: lowest rate - they can walk but need help and or supervision when outdoors highest rate - they cannot walk, can only walk a short distance without severe discomfort, could become very ill if they try to walk or they’re blind, severely sight impaired Change of circumstances Contact the Disability Service Centre as soon as the child’s circumstances change. This can affect how much they get, for example if their disability gets worse or they go abroad for medical treatment. Their DLA will not usually be affected if they go: into a local authority care home for less than 28 days into a hospital abroad for less than 13 weeks abroad for less than 26 weeks to get medical treatment for a condition which began before they left

To claim DLA for a child you need to be their parent or look after them as if you’re their parent. This includes step-parents, guardians, grandparents, foster-parents or older brothers or sisters. To apply you can either: print off and fill in the DLA claim form phone the Disability Living Allowance helpline and ask for a printed form Disability Living Allowance helpline Telephone: 0800 121 4600 Textphone: 0800 121 4523 Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 121 4600 Video relay service for British Sign Language (BSL) users - check you can use this service Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm Find out about call charges The process is different in Northern Ireland . Alternative formats Call the Disability Living Allowance helpline to ask for alternative formats, such as braille, large print or audio CD. When you’ll be paid 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. If the child is terminally ill There are special rules if the child is not expected to live more than 6 months, so they can get DLA more quickly. Phone the Disability Living Allowance helpline to start your claim. Ask a doctor or other healthcare professional for form DS1500. They’ll either fill it in and give the form to you or send it directly to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). If you disagree with a decision You can challenge a decision about your claim. This is called asking for mandatory reconsideration.

When your child turns 16

Your child will need to apply for Personal Independence Payment ( PIP ) when they turn 16. When they apply for PIP Your child will get a letter inviting them to apply for PIP . The letter will be sent: shortly after their 16th birthday when they leave hospital, if they were in hospital on their 16th birthday about 20 weeks before their DLA award ends, if they were awarded DLA under the rules for people who are terminally ill Your child’s DLA payments will stop unless they apply for PIP by the date given in the letter. If they apply by the date given in the letter, they’ll continue to receive DLA until their claim is assessed.

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children

Overview

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children may help with the extra costs of looking after a child 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

They will need to meet all the eligibility requirements.

The DLA rate is between £23.60 and £151.40 a week and depends on the level of help the child needs.

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