Parents could be eligible for nearly £200 a month to assist with additional costs associated with their children. The Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is available to help cover the extra expenses of caring for a child under 16 who has walking difficulties or requires more care than a non-disabled child of the same age.
At present, parents can claim between £28.70 and £184.30 per week – the amount received will depend on the level of care the child needs.
DLA consists of three care components which determine the potential amount you may receive. The lowest rate is for children who require assistance for part of the day, while the middle rate is for children who need frequent help or supervision during both day and night, or require assistance during dialysis.
The higher rate is for children who need help or supervision throughout the day and night. This rate is also applicable for children who have been medically advised they may have less than 12 months to live.
There are two mobility components that also influence the amount you will receive. The lower rate is for children who can walk but require assistance or supervision outdoors, while the highest rate is for children who cannot walk, can only walk a short distance without severe discomfort, become ill if they try to walk, or are blind or severely sight impaired.
Which children qualify for DLA
In order to be considered eligible for the Disability Living Allowance, a child must meet the following criteria, according to gov.uk:
- Be under 16 – anyone over 16 must apply for Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Need extra looking after or have walking difficulties
- Ne in England, Wales, a European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland when you claim – there are some exceptions, such as family members of the Armed Forces
- Have lived in Great Britain for at least 6 of the last 12 months, if over 3 years old
- Be habitually resident in the UK, Ireland, Isle of Man or the Channel Islands
- Not be subject to immigration control
A child’s disability or health condition must also impede their ability to walk around and require them to have more looking after than a child of the same age without a dsiability.
How to apply for DLA
In order to claim DLA for a child, a parent needs to be either their parent or look after them as if they were a parent – this includes step-parents guardians, grandparents, foster-parents, or older brothers and sisters.
You can print off and fill in a DLA claim form which is available from gov.uk which you can then send to Freepost DWP DLA Child. You do not need a postcode or a stamp for this freepost address.
