Disability Living Allowance for children

Your child, or children, may be able to get DLA if all the following apply:

• Under 16
• Have difficulties walking or need extra looking after
• Live in England or Wales

Your child must have had these difficulties for at least three months, and they are expected to last for at least six months.

If your child is 16 or over, they’ll need to apply for Personal Independence Payment (PIP). This is money to help with the extra costs of living with a disability or a long-term physical or mental health condition.

If your child lives in Scotland, apply for Child Disability Payment or if your child lives in Northern Ireland, apply for Disability Living Allowance for children in Northern Ireland on nidirect.

If your child’s under three

It can be harder to get DLA for a child under three because all young children need a lot of care. But if your child needs more care or supervision than other children their age because of a health condition or disability, you should apply.

Children under three are not eligible for the mobility component of DLA.

If your child is not a British citizen

You can only get DLA for your child if their immigration status lets them claim public funds from the government.

Your child can claim public funds if you have any of the following:

• British or Irish citizenship
• Pre-settled or settled status from the EU Settlement Scheme
• Indefinite leave to remain
• Refugee status or humanitarian protection
• Right of abode

If you need help to understand whether you can claim DLA for your child, contact your local Citizens Advice or speak with us.

You can still get DLA for your child, or children, even if you get other benefits. DLA is not means-tested – this means it does not matter how much money or savings you have, or what other income you get.

Getting DLA might also mean:

• You can get other benefits, such as Carer’s Allowance, or
• You can get a higher rate of benefits you currently receive

DLA is made up of two parts – the care component and the mobility component. Each component is paid at different rates, and payments are made every four weeks. Your child may get one component or both, depending on the type of help they need.

The care component

The care component has three rates – highest, middle, and lowest. The rate you get depends on how much care and supervision your child needs because of their disability or health condition. For example, if they need frequent care or supervision throughout both the day and night, they may get the higher rate

The mobility component

The mobility component has two rates – highest and lowest. The rate you get is based on the level of help they need getting about.

The highest rate is usually for children aged three or over who meet one or more of the following:

• Cannot walk
• Can only walk a short distance without severe discomfort
• Could become very ill if they try to walk
• Are blind or severely sight impaired

The lower rate is usually for children aged five or over who:

• Can walk, but have difficulty getting around
• Need help or supervision when outdoors

For more detailed information on current DLA rates for children, visit GOV.UK

To claim DLA for a child, you must be the person who looks after them and is responsible for their care. This is usually a parent, guardian, or main carer.

You can apply by visiting GOV.UK’s How to claim page, where you can print off and fill in the DLA claim form. Or you can call the Disability Living Allowance helpline and ask them to send you a printed form.

Your claim will start from the date that your form is received, or the date that you called the helpline to request a form. If a form is sent to you by post, you must send it back within six weeks.

After you apply, you’ll get a letter within three weeks telling you how long it may take to get a decision.

You’ll get another letter once the decision is made. If your child is awarded DLA, it will tell you

• how much you’ll get
• how long the award is for
• when your first payment will be

If you’re not successful, or you disagree with how much you will get, you can challenge the decision.

If you’re turned down for DLA for your child, or you think the amount is wrong, you can ask the DWP to look at the decision again. This is called a mandatory reconsideration.

You need to ask for it within one month of the date on your decision letter.

Find out more about how to challenge a benefit decision at GOV.UK.

You can speak to Citizens Advice or get in touch with us for advice and support with challenging a decision.

At any time, during or after your claim, you must report any changes to the DWP. You can do this by calling the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) helpline.

Changes you need to report include:

• If your child’s personal details change, like their surname, address, or doctor
• The level of help they need or their condition changes
• They go into hospital or residential care
• Going abroad for more than four weeks
• Their immigration status changes

Author: Muscular Dystrophy UK
Last reviewed: July 2025
Next review due: July 2028