Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for your child

Is my child eligible?

Your child may be able to get DLA if they are under 16 and, compared with other children of the same age, they:

• need significantly more help with personal care — washing, dressing, eating, using the toilet — or supervision to stay safe during the day or night;
• have difficulty getting around, walking outdoors, or need guidance or supervision when out and about.

There is a 3-month rule: the child must have needed this help for at least 3 months and be expected to need it for at least 6 more months. (The 3-month rule doesn't apply to children with a terminal illness.)

2026/27 rates (from 6 April 2026)

DLA has a care component and a mobility component — a child can get one or both. Rates are normally uprated each April.

Component	Rate	Weekly amount
Care — lowest	Help needed some of the time during the day	£30.30
Care — middle	Frequent help or supervision during the day, OR attention at night	£76.70
Care — highest	Help or supervision needed both day and night	£114.60
Mobility — lower	Needs guidance or supervision outdoors	£30.30
Mobility — higher	Can't walk or finds walking very difficult, or severe behavioural difficulties	£80.00

Maximum combined: £194.60 a week. DLA is usually paid every 4 weeks on a Tuesday. Source: GOV.UK, checked August 2026.

How to claim

1. Request a claim pack. Call the DLA claim line on 0800 121 4600 (Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm) and ask for the child claim pack. You can also ask the helpline about the latest ways to claim. If your child lives in Scotland, claim Child Disability Payment instead — it replaced DLA there.
2. Gather evidence. Diagnosis letters, reports from paediatricians, speech and language or occupational therapists, CAMHS, school or nursery reports, and any care plans. You don't need it all before you start — you can send evidence after the form.
3. Fill in the form with real examples. Use the "your child's daily routine" sections to describe a typical day and night: what help they need with washing, dressing, meals, toileting, sleep, safety and being out and about — and how this compares with a child of the same age. Specific examples beat general statements.
4. Return it and keep a copy. Send it back with your evidence. Keep copies of everything and note the date you sent it — your claim can be backdated up to 3 months.

Evidence tips that make a difference

• Write the diary. A week of notes (times, what happened, what you did, what would happen without you) is powerful evidence.
• Describe the worst day, not the best. Decision makers need the full picture of how much help your child needs.
• Mention supervision and safety. For autistic children especially, needing someone to keep them safe (e.g. wandering, no danger awareness, meltdowns) counts as care needs.
• Ask school to write a letter. A short letter from the SENCO or class teacher about support at school supports your claim.
• Say it plainly. Don't rely on jargon or diagnoses — spell out exactly what help your child needs and why.

After you apply

• Decision: You'll get a letter with the decision and the reasons. If you're unhappy, you can challenge it.
• Mandatory reconsideration: Ask the DWP to look at the decision again within 1 month of the decision letter. Include any new evidence.
• Appeal to tribunal: If the reconsideration doesn't change the decision, you can appeal to the First-tier Tribunal — usually within 1 month of the reconsideration letter. Parents win a large share of DLA appeals, so don't give up.

When your child turns 16

DLA stops when your child turns 16. They'll need to claim Personal Independence Payment (PIP) instead (Adult Disability Payment in Scotland). PIP has the same care and mobility ideas but different rules, so treat it as a fresh claim and start before their 16th birthday.