Disability benefits for disabled children

In short

• Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children is paid in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In Scotland, Child Disability Payment does a similar job.
• You do not need a formal diagnosis to apply. The rules ask what your child needs day to day and how far they can get about.
• Most children move from DLA to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) at 16. Follow the letter you receive, and check its deadline.
• If you disagree with a decision, you can usually ask for it to be looked at again before you appeal.

What the benefits are for

Both benefits help with the extra costs of raising a disabled child. Each has two parts.

The care component is for a child who needs much more looking after than a child of the same age who does not have a disability. The mobility component is for a child who has difficulty getting about.

Each part is paid at a level that depends on how much help your child needs. Rates change each year, so check the official pages for current figures.

Does your child need a diagnosis?

The rules do not ask for a diagnosis. The GOV.UK eligibility page for DLA does not list one. Instead, it asks whether your child's disability or health condition means they need much more looking after, or have difficulty getting about. The difficulties must have lasted at least three months and be expected to last at least six more months.

In Scotland, mygov.scot, the official Scottish Government site, says you can apply even if your child does not have a diagnosis. You describe how your child is affected and what symptoms they have.

A diagnosis, report or letter from a professional can still help. It shows the people deciding your claim what they need to know. Keep copies of everything you send.

Who can claim, and where

• England and Wales: your child must be living in England or Wales when you claim, with some exceptions for people who have recently arrived.
• Northern Ireland: your child must be habitually resident in Northern Ireland when you claim.
• Scotland: apply for Child Disability Payment instead of DLA.

Children must be under 16 to get these benefits.

If you move your child from Scotland to England or Wales, make a new DLA claim as soon as you move. If you move from England or Wales to Scotland, DLA can continue for up to 13 weeks. Apply for Child Disability Payment as soon as you can, and tell the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

How to claim

• England and Wales: follow the "How to claim" steps on GOV.UK.
• Scotland: follow the steps on mygov.scot.
• Northern Ireland: ask for a DLA claim pack by emailing dcs.forms@dfcni.gov.uk or by calling the Disability and Carers Service on 0800 587 0912. You can also download form DLA1 from nidirect. If you return the form within six weeks, the date you asked for the pack counts as your claim date.

DLA usually cannot be backdated, so do not wait longer than you need to. Before you start, write down a typical day for your child. Note the help they need at each point, including at night. This makes the form easier to complete.

When your child turns 16

In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, your child will be sent a letter inviting them to apply for PIP. The letter sets a deadline. If you apply by that date, DLA continues until the PIP claim is decided. If you miss the deadline, DLA stops.

If your child cannot manage their own benefits, a parent may be able to apply to become their appointee. GOV.UK explains how to ask.

In Scotland, a teenager aged 16 to 18 can either apply for Adult Disability Payment at any time or keep getting Child Disability Payment. They are not moved across automatically.

If you disagree with a decision

• England and Wales: ask for a mandatory reconsideration. You usually need to ask within one month of the date on the decision. GOV.UK says you can ask later if you have a good reason. If the decision still stands, you can appeal to a tribunal.
• Northern Ireland: you must ask for a reconsideration before you can appeal. Your appeal must reach the Appeals Service within one month of the reconsideration notice. Check the deadline in your decision letter.
• Scotland: you can ask Social Security Scotland to look at the decision again. Check the time limit in your decision letter.

Where to get help

• Contact runs a free helpline for parents and carers of disabled children from birth to 25, across the UK. Call 0808 808 3555.
• Citizens Advice covers benefits in England and Wales.
• Advice NI gives advice on benefits in Northern Ireland. Its helpline is 0800 915 4604.

This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice.