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 £26.90 Middle £68.10 Highest £101.75 Mobility component Mobility component Weekly rate Lower £26.90 Higher £71 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 or building society 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 England, Wales, 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 at least 6 of the last 12 months, 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 There are some exceptions to these conditions if the child is living in or coming from an EEA country or Switzerland . The rules are different in Northern Ireland . If your child currently lives in Scotland, you need to apply for Child Disability Payment instead. You can claim DLA for children if you’re in or out of work. If you’re not a British citizen If you and your child are from the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein, you will usually also need settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to claim DLA for your child. The deadline to apply to the scheme was 30 June 2021 for most people, but you might still be able to apply. Check if you can still apply to the EU Settlement Scheme . 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 medical professional has said the child might have 12 months or less to live. 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 a medical professional has said they might have 12 months or less to live, 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 a medical professional has said they might have 12 months or less to live 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 or severely sight impaired There are also age limits to receiving the mobility component: lowest rate - the child must be 5 years or over highest rate - the child must be 3 years or over If your child is under these ages and you claim DLA for them, you should be sent a claim pack 6 months before they turn 3 and 6 months before they turn 5. You can then apply for the mobility component if you think they’re eligible for it. If you have not received any claim packs and you think your child may be entitled to the mobility component, contact the Disability Service Centre .

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. If your child currently lives in England or Wales you can apply by either: printing off and filling in the DLA claim form phoning the Disability Living Allowance helpline and asking 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 British Sign Language (BSL) video relay service if you’re on a computer - find out how to use the service on mobile or tablet Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm Find out about call charges If your child lives in Northern Ireland, apply for DLA for children in Northern Ireland . If your child lives in Scotland, apply for Child Disability Payment . If your child moves from Scotland to England or Wales Your Child Disability Payment will stop 13 weeks after your child moves. Apply for DLA for children as soon as possible after moving or your payments could be affected. 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). After you’ve applied, you’ll get a letter within 3 weeks that explains how long it’ll take to get a decision. Once the decision has been made, you’ll get another letter that’ll tell you when you’ll get your first payment. If the child might have 12 months or less to live There are special rules if a medical professional has said the child might have 12 months or less to live, so they can get DLA more quickly. Phone the Disability Living Allowance helpline to start your claim. Ask a medical professional for form SR1. They’ll either fill it in and give the form to you or send it directly to the Department for Work and Pensions. If you disagree with a decision You can challenge a decision about your claim. This is called asking for mandatory reconsideration.

Changes you need to report

You must contact the Disability Living Allowance ( DLA ) helpline if: your child’s personal details change, for example their name, address or doctor the level of help they need or their condition changes their condition has worsened and they’re not expected to live more than 12 months they go into hospital or a care home they go abroad they’re imprisoned or held in detention their immigration status has changed, if they’re not a British citizen You could be taken to court or have to pay a penalty if you give wrong information or do not report a change in your child’s circumstances. A change can affect how much DLA your child gets. 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 If your child moves to Scotland If your child gets DLA and they move to Scotland, you must report this by calling the DLA helpline. They’ll arrange for your child to get Child Disability Payment instead. You do not need to make a new application for Child Disability Payment. Your DLA will stop 13 weeks after your child moves – report their move as soon as possible or your payments could be affected. Call the DLA 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 British Sign Language (BSL) video relay service if you’re on a computer - find out how to use the service on mobile or tablet Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm Find out about call charges

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 special rules for people who might have 12 months or less to live 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 £26.90 and £172.50 a week and depends on the level of help the child needs.

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg), British Sign Language (BSL) and easy read format.

If your child lives in Scotland

You need to apply for Child Disability Payment instead of DLA for children.

If your child is getting DLA for children but they have moved to Scotland, you’ll need to report this change so they can get Child Disability Payment instead.

If your child moves from Scotland to England or Wales

If your child gets Child Disability Payment, you must:

report this to Social Security Scotland
make a new claim for DLA for children

Your Child Disability Payment will stop 13 weeks after your child moves – apply for DLA as soon as possible after moving or your payments could be affected.

View a printable version of the whole guide

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children

Overview

If your child lives in Scotland

If your child moves from Scotland to England or Wales

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Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children

Overview

If your child lives in Scotland

If your child moves from Scotland to England or Wales

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