Care and support

What is Disability Living Allowance?

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is a tax free cash benefit worth up to £113.75 per week. It is paid to help meet the extra costs of bringing up a child with a disability. It is not means-tested so you can claim DLA whatever your income or savings.

DLA has 2 parts - one part for care needs and the other for mobility needs. Either or both of these parts can be paid. There are 3 different rates payable for care, and 2 different rates for mobility. You can only be paid one rate from each part that your child qualifies for.

DLA is paid on top of any other income. If your child is awarded DLA then you could get more child tax credit, housing or council tax benefit, or you may start to qualify for one of these benefits.

Who can claim?

To claim DLA your child must have had the care or mobility problems for the past three months. Also, your child’s disability must be likely to last for at least the next 6 months.

A claim can be made for a child with a physical disability (including sight, hearing or communication difficulties) or for a child with a learning disability or mental health problem - even if the cause of the problem has not yet been diagnosed. Your child does not need to attend a special school or to have a statement of special educational needs to be able to qualify for DLA.

Children with developmental delay, ADHD, autistic-spectrum disorders and Asperger’s Syndrome have all made successful claims for DLA – what matters is the effect that their condition has on their care and supervision needs.

If there is more than one disabled child living in your household, a claim can be made for each of those children.

There is no lower age limit for claiming the care part of DLA. The higher rate of the mobility part can be paid from 3 years; the lower rate can be paid from 5 years.

Once in payment, DLA can continue for as long as your child still qualifies. Payments are made to the parent or guardian of a child under 16.