Disability benefits and entitlements for children

Disability Living Allowance is a regular payment to help with the extra costs of daily living or getting about because your child has a long-term health condition or disability. It isn’t means-tested.

This means you might able to claim the benefit for your child regardless of your income or how much you have in savings.

• children aged from three months to 16 years, who need extra help with daily living tasks, or
• children aged from three years to 16 years who need help with mobility (getting about).

It’s a payment that helps with the extra costs of being disabled or having a long-term health condition. It isn’t means-tested.

This means you might be able to claim the benefit for your child when they turn 16, regardless of your income or how much you have in savings.

People aged over 16 and under State Pension age who need help with daily living tasks or mobility (getting around).

If your child is aged 16 or over and you’re making a new claim for help with the extra costs of disability, you’ll need to claim Personal Independence Payment. If you live in Scotland you’ll need to claim Adult Disability Payment for your child. Find out more about Adult Disability Payment on mygovscot.uk.

If your child is already getting Disability Living Allowance, you’ll be invited to make a new claim for Personal Independence Payment when they reach age 16.

It’s for the person responsible for paying Council Tax (or Rates in Northern Ireland). More of your bill might be covered if a child in your household has a disability or long-term health condition.

Council Tax Benefit has now been replaced by Council Tax Reduction schemes run by local councils in England, Wales and Scotland.

You don’t need to apply for this. If you qualify for a Cold Weather Payment, you’ll be paid it automatically after the temperature in your area has dropped below 0°C for seven consecutive days or more.

Child Tax Credit has been replaced by Universal Credit as the main benefit for anyone with responsibility for a child that usually lives with them.

You can no longer make a new claim for it unless you’re claiming Working Tax Credit.

If you need extra support, you will need to make a claim for the child element of Universal Credit. How much you get will depend on your household income. You may also be able to claim the disabled child addition.

Depending on your child’s condition and the support they need, you could get from £132.89 to £414.88 a month (2022/23) as part of your Universal Credit payment.

If you’re already getting Child Tax Credit and your child develops a disability or long-term health condition, you might able to claim an extra disabled premium for them.

Depending your child’s condition and the support they need, you could get between £3,435 and £4,865 a year (2022/23) as part of your Child Tax Credit payment.

The Blue Badge scheme helps those with severe mobility problems who have difficulty using public transport to park close to where they need to go. Charges and entitlement rules for the Blue Badge scheme vary across the UK.

Apply online on the GOV.UK website or contact your local council.

You get it if you’re spending at least 35 hours a week caring for a child who gets the middle or higher rate care component of Disability Living Allowance or the daily living component of PIP if they’re aged over 16.

If you’re on a low income you can apply for the Carer’s element of Universal Credit if you’re looking after a severely disabled person for at least 35 hours a week.

If you’re already getting Carer’s Allowance this will be counted as part of your income when working out how much Universal Credit you’re entitled to.

If you live in Scotland, carers will also get a supplementary payment of £237.90 a year. This will be made in two payments. 

Find out more on the mygov.scot website

While the disability benefit system is being reformed, it’s particularly important to know where to get specialist help if you need it.

• DWP’s Disability Benefits Helpline: 0800 121 4600
• Call Contact’s Family Helpline: 0808 808 3555
• Enter your postcode on the Citizens Advice website to find your local bureau.