Benefits & money · England
Money to help a disabled child
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This guide is for parents and other people caring for a disabled child.
Benefits are payments from the government.
Disability Living Allowance is a benefit for some disabled children.
It is often called DLA.
A child must be under 16 and meet the rules.
The rules look at the extra help your child needs.
This may be care, watching over them or help getting around.
The rules compare their needs with children of the same age.
Explain what help your child needs during the day.
Explain any help they need at night.
Give examples and say how often help is needed.
Your family may also get help through other benefits.
Tell Universal Credit if your child gets a disability benefit.
Ask whether your family can get an extra payment.
Benefit rules change when a young person reaches 16.
They will usually be invited to apply for Personal Independence Payment.
This is often called PIP.
PIP has different rules from DLA.
Read the invitation letter and check the date for replying.
Ask for help with the new claim.
Applying in time normally keeps DLA payments going while the claim is checked.
Help the young person understand and take part.
If they cannot manage their benefits, ask about an appointee.
An appointee is someone officially allowed to manage another person’s benefits.
What you can do next
Ask a benefits adviser to check your family’s benefits.
Ask for help before the young person reaches 16.
Read how to claim DLA for a child Web pageThis link opens another website.
It may use harder words.
Benefits for disabled children
DLA, extra family support and planning for the move to adult benefits.
Disabled children and their families · England
Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
DLA for children is for those under 16 who meet its conditions. The rules consider extra care or supervision compared with a child of the same age, or difficulties getting around. Care and mobility parts have different rules, including age rules.
Describe the extra support
Explain the help needed in the day and at night, how often it is needed and what happens without it. Include support with communication, safety or getting around where relevant. Normally the difficulties must have existed for three months and be expected to last at least six more months; special end-of-life rules differ.
Check the family’s other benefits
A qualifying DLA award can affect other support. If your household receives Universal Credit, ask whether a disabled-child addition should be included and report the award. A parent or other carer may separately qualify for caring-related benefits. These are not all added automatically.
The change at 16
DWP normally invites a young person receiving DLA to apply for PIP shortly after their 16th birthday. PIP is a separate claim with different rules. Follow the deadline in the invitation: applying in time normally keeps DLA in payment while the PIP claim is assessed.
Support the young person to manage their claim
Involve the young person and provide the help they need to understand. If they cannot manage their benefits, ask DWP about an appointee. Being a parent does not automatically mean you can manage an adult benefit claim. An appointee’s role concerns benefits, not general authority over their life.
Words you could use
“Please check DLA and any extra benefits our family could receive, and help us plan for the change at 16.”
Where the information comes from
Links checked 26 October 2026.
These links open other websites.
They may use harder words.
- GOV.UK: DLA for children eligibility Web page
Care, mobility, age and residence conditions.
- GOV.UK: claiming DLA for children Web page
Who can claim for a child and how to get the form.
- GOV.UK: when a child receiving DLA turns 16 Web page
Invitation deadlines, continuing payments and appointee information.
- GOV.UK: Universal Credit extra amounts Web page
Disabled-child additions and reporting changes.