Child Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

Disability Living Allowance provides help towards the extra costs of bringing up a disabled child.

There is no lower age limit but there is a 3 month qualifying period so normally you cannot get DLA for your child until they are 3 months old (there is no qualifying period if you child is terminally ill.) Your child can claim DLA up to their 16th Birthday. Shortly after this they will be sent a letter inviting them to claim PIP.

There are 2 components to DLA. The mobility component is payable at a high or low rate; and the care component is payable at a low, middle and high rate.

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, 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 or has a severe mental impairment.

How to Claim

You can down load a form using this link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/disability-living-allowance-for-children-claim-form

Or  call, Monday to Friday, 8am to 7.30pm

  • Disability Living Allowance helpline: telephone: 0800 121 4600
  • Textphone: 0800 121 4523
  • NGT text relay (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 121 4600

Adult Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

You can no longer make a new claim for DLA if you are 16 or over; you will need to make a claim for Personal independence Payment (PIP).

If you were born on or before 8 April 1948, you’ll continue to get DLA as long as you’re eligible for it.

Anyone else will eventually be asked to apply for and transfer to PIP, even if you have been given an indefinite or lifetime award of DLA. If you do not claim PIP your DLA will stop.

Once you reach over 65 years of age, your Mobility component will not be re-assessed even if your mobility needs change.