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> Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children under16
This benefit is dealt with by The Disability and Carers Service. Find your Disability Benefits Centre here.
What is the DLA?
You can claim DLA for a child with a severe physical or mental illness or disability if they need much more help or looking after than other children of the same age because of their illness or disability.
When can you claim?
• If your child is aged 3 months or over and generally needs extra help or looking after
• If your child is aged 3 or over and has severe difficulty walking
• If your child is aged 5 years or over and needs extra help getting around out of doors
Notes
You can claim DLA before your child is aged 3 months, but DLA will not be paid before they reach the age of 3 months unless they are terminally ill.
How much is it?
Weekly amounts:
Paid because your child needs looking after
Higher rate - £64.50
Middle rate - £43.15
Lower rate - £17.10
Paid to help your child get around
Higher rate - £45.00
Lower rate - £17.10
These amounts should be treated as a guide. The rules for benefits mean that your individual circumstances may affect the amount you can get, so you can't always work out exactly how much you will get.
How to claim
Claim straight away. If you delay you may lose benefit.
Contact your social security office for a claim form, or download one here. You will need to give proof of identity and may need to provide evidence to support your claim.