Disability Living Allowance for Children

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is a benefit for adults and children who find it difficult to care for themselves because they have a physical or mental disability. To claim DLA your child must need a lot more help or supervision than other children of the same age.

There are two parts to the benefit:

a care component - which has three levels
a mobility component – which has two levels

You can claim for care needs before a child is aged three months, but benefit will not be paid before the child reaches the age of three months unless they are paid under ‘special rules’ ie if the child has a terminal illness, which means they get benefit more quickly and easily.

You can claim for mobility needs from:

age three, if your child is unable, or virtually unable, to walk
age three, if your child is assessed to be both 100% disabled because of loss of eyesight and not less than 80% disabled because of deafness
age three, if your child is severely mentally impaired with severe behavioural problems and qualifies for the highest rate of care component
age five, if your child needs guidance or supervision when walking out of doors
How to Claim
There are two packs – one if you are claiming for someone aged 16 or over and another if you are claiming for a child under 16.

You can claim online or get a claim pack by:

Ringing the Benefit Enquiry Line for a claim form on 0800 88 22 00
(8.30am – 6.30pm Monday to Friday and 9am -1pm Saturday)
Contacting your local Jobcentre Plus Office or local social security office
Apply online

If you need help with completing DLA forms contact Carers Bucks and we can refer you to the appropriate agency or visit the Further Sources of Information page.

Top of Page