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 £29.20 Middle £73.90 Highest £110.40 Mobility component Mobility component Weekly rate Lower £29.20 Higher £77.05 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 .

You’ll usually be able to get Disability Living Allowance ( DLA ) for children if all of the following apply. 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 living in England or Wales when you claim (unless you’re eligible to claim from abroad) If your child is nearing the end of life (for example, due to a life-limiting illness) you might be able to get DLA for children more quickly and at a higher rate. If your child lives in Scotland, apply for Child Disability Payment instead. If your child lives in Northern Ireland, apply for Disability Living Allowance for children in Northern Ireland . You can claim DLA for children if you’re in or out of work. When you can claim from abroad You might still be able to get DLA for children if: your child lives in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein - you can only get help with your child’s daily living tasks your child is abroad receiving medical treatment your child lives with a parent working in the armed forces If you’ve recently moved to the UK from abroad To be eligible your child must both: have lived in England, Scotland or Wales for a minimum period of time be living in either England or Wales when you apply If your child is not a British citizen they must also have the right to claim ‘public funds’. This will depend on their immigration status . Your child might be able to get DLA for children without meeting these requirements if they have refugee or humanitarian protection status, or they’re the dependant of someone who does. Check how long your child must have lived in England, Scotland or Wales How long your child must usually have lived in England, Scotland or Wales depends on how old they are. Child’s age Minimum time spent living in England, Scotland or Wales Under 6 months old at least 13 weeks Between 6 months and 3 years old at least 26 of the last 156 weeks Over 3 years old at least 6 of the last 12 months Your child might be able to get DLA for children sooner if: your child is nearing the end of life (for example, due to a life-limiting illness) your child lives with a parent working in the armed forces your child is returning from living in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and they are covered by the withdrawal agreement 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 your child is nearing the end of life (for example, due to a life-limiting illness), 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 nearing the end of life (for example, because of a life-limiting illness) 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. There’s a different way to claim if your child is nearing the end of life (for example, because of a life-limiting illness). 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 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 a medical professional has said they’re nearing the end of life (for example, due to a life-limiting illness) they go into hospital or a care home they plan to go abroad for more than 4 weeks 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

If your child is nearing the end of life

If your child is nearing the end of life (for example, due to a life-limiting illness) you might be able to get Disability Living Allowance ( DLA ) for children more quickly and at a higher rate. This is sometimes called ‘special rules for end of life’. You may be able to get other benefits if your child is nearing the end of life . If your child lives in Scotland, apply for Child Disability Payment instead. If your child lives in Northern Ireland, apply for Disability Living Allowance for children in Northern Ireland . Eligibility Your child is usually eligible if: they’re under 16 - anyone over 16 must apply for Personal Independence Payment ( PIP ) your doctor or medical professional has said they might have 12 months or less to live It can be difficult to predict how long someone might live for. If a medical professional has not talked to you about this, you can still ask them to support your claim under the special rules for end of life. If you already get DLA for children Contact the Disability Living Allowance helpline straight away if a medical professional has said your child might have 12 months or less to live. What you’ll get Your child will get the highest care component of £108.55 per week. They may also be eligible for the mobility component . How to 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 ( DWP ). Contact the Disability Living Allowance helpline to start your claim. 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

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 £29.20 and £187.45 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

Is this page useful?

Help us improve GOV.UK

Help us improve GOV.UK

Cookies on GOV.UK

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children

Overview

If your child lives in Scotland

If your child moves from Scotland to England or Wales

Related content

Is this page useful?

Help us improve GOV.UK

Help us improve GOV.UK