Applying for DLA for your child

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children is a non-means-tested benefit for disabled children under 16. It is paid to the parent or carer and helps cover the additional costs of looking after a child with a disability or health condition — including SEND.

Is your child eligible?

To be eligible for DLA, your child must:

• Be under 16 (16 and over can claim Personal Independence Payment instead)
• Have a physical or mental disability or health condition
• Have needed significantly more help than a non-disabled child of the same age for at least 3 months
• Be expected to need that help for at least 6 more months

The condition does not need to be formally diagnosed. Many children with SEND are eligible even without a diagnosis — what matters is the level of care and supervision they need, not the label.

The two components

DLA for children has two parts:

Care component

For children who need significantly more attention, supervision, or help with personal care than a child of the same age without a disability.

Three rates apply:

• Lowest rate — needs some help or supervision during the day
• Middle rate — needs frequent help during the day, or help at night, or is at risk
• Highest rate — needs help throughout the day and night, or is terminally ill

Mobility component

For children aged 5 and over who have walking difficulties or need guidance and supervision when outdoors.

Two rates apply:

• Lower rate — needs guidance or supervision when walking in unfamiliar places
• Higher rate — cannot walk, or walking causes severe discomfort, or is severely visually impaired

How to apply

You apply by completing the DLA claim form (form DLA1 Child). You can:

1. Call the DWP on 0800 121 4600 to request a paper form (they will record the call date as the start of your claim)
2. Download the form from GOV.UK (note: using the download means the claim date is when you send it, not when you requested it — calling is usually better)

Completing the form effectively

The form is long — 40+ pages. The most important thing is to describe your child on their worst days, not their average or best days.

Key principles:

• Be specific and detailed — "it takes 45 minutes to get him dressed because he becomes distressed by textures, and I need to offer several options before he will engage" is better than "getting dressed is difficult"
• Describe every day — include bedtime routine, morning routine, meals, toileting, managing emotions, sensory needs, unpredictability
• Include all supervision — even if your child does not need physical help, constant supervision is care
• Explain what happens if you do not help — meltdowns, injury risk, refusal to eat, inability to sleep

Evidence to include

You do not have to provide evidence, but it strengthens your claim significantly. Include:

• Professional reports — OT, SALT, CAMHS, paediatrician, psychologist
• School reports — EHCP, annual review reports, teacher letters describing need
• GP letter — brief summary of diagnosis and how it affects daily life
• Your own diary — a week of detailed daily notes about your child's needs
• Any previous DWP letters — if this is a renewal or a review

What happens next

After you submit:

• DWP will review the form
• They may contact you or request a medical assessment (less common for children)
• A decision letter will arrive within 40 working days (often sooner)
• If awarded, payments are backdated to when you called to request the form

If you are refused or given a lower rate than you expected, you can ask for a mandatory reconsideration within one month of the decision letter.