Disability Living Allowance for children
A payment for disabled children under 16. Not means tested, and a gateway to several other entitlements.
Figures on this page are 2026/27 tax year rates, checked 2 August 2026. UK benefit rates and care charging thresholds change every April.
Disability Living Allowance for children helps with the extra costs of looking after a disabled child under 16. It is not means tested, not taxable, and does not reduce any other benefit.
The rates
Care component
| Rate | Weekly | For |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest | 2026/27 £30.30 | Help for part of the day |
| Middle | £76.70 | Frequent help or supervision during the day, or help at night |
| Highest | £114.60 | Help or supervision day and night, or a terminal illness |
Mobility component
| Rate | Weekly | For |
|---|---|---|
| Lower | £30.30 | Aged 5+, needs guidance or supervision outdoors |
| Higher | £80.00 | Aged 3+, unable or virtually unable to walk |
The test
The question is what help your child needs compared with a child of the same age who is not disabled. That comparison is the whole thing, and it is what parents most often forget when filling in the form.
A seven-year-old needing help to wash is normal. A seven-year-old needing two adults to manage a meltdown, or waking four times a night, is not.
No diagnosis is required. Children waiting years for an autism or ADHD assessment can and should still claim.
Filling in the form
It is long, and the same advice applies as for Attendance Allowance:
- Describe a bad day, and say how often bad days happen
- Give numbers: how many times a night, how many minutes, how many people
- Say what happens without help, not just that help is needed
- Include the extra supervision your child needs for safety, which is where many claims are won
- Use extra sheets, and keep a copy
What claiming unlocks
This is why it matters beyond the money:
- The middle or highest care rate lets a parent claim Carer’s Allowance
- It adds the disabled child element to Universal Credit
- The higher mobility rate opens the Motability scheme and exempts you from vehicle tax
- It supports a Blue Badge application
- It is useful evidence for an EHC plan request
- It can trigger a Disabled Facilities Grant, which for a child under 18 ignores your income entirely
At 16
DLA stops and the young person claims PIP instead. It is not automatic and it is not a formality: PIP uses a completely different points-based test. Start it early, because gaps in payment are common.
Common questions
Is child DLA means tested?
No. Your income, savings and whether you own your home make no difference at all. It is also not taxable, and it does not count as income for other benefits.
How old does my child have to be?
Under 16. The care component can be claimed from three months old, and the mobility component from age three (or from birth for the lower mobility rate in limited circumstances). At 16 the claim moves to PIP.
Does my child need a diagnosis?
No. DLA is assessed on the help your child needs compared with a child of the same age without a disability, not on a diagnosis. Children waiting for an autism or ADHD assessment can and should still claim.
What else does claiming unlock?
A lot. The middle or highest care rate lets a parent claim Carer's Allowance. It adds the disabled child element to Universal Credit. The higher mobility rate gives access to the Motability scheme and exemption from vehicle tax. It also supports a Blue Badge application and can strengthen an EHC plan request.
Sources
- GOV.UK — Disability Living Allowance for children accessed 2 August 2026
- DWP benefit and pension rates 2026 to 2027 accessed 2 August 2026
This page is general information about how care funding works in England. It is not financial, legal or medical advice, and it does not replace an assessment by your local council or the NHS. Carevo is not a care provider.