Parents of disabled children can access a range of financial support. Here’s a comprehensive guide to everything available.
Main Benefits
DLA for Children
| Component | Rate | Weekly Amount 2026-27 |
|---|---|---|
| Care — Lowest | Help for some of the day | £28.70 |
| Care — Middle | Frequent help day or night | £72.65 |
| Care — Highest | Help day and night | £108.55 |
| Mobility — Lower | Guidance/supervision outdoors | £28.70 |
| Mobility — Higher | Severe walking difficulties | £75.75 |
Maximum combined: £184.30/week (£9,583.60/year)
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Age | From birth (care), from age 3 (higher mobility) |
| Means-tested | No — any income/savings level |
| Taxable | No |
| Counts as income for UC | No |
Carer’s Allowance
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Rate | £81.90/week |
| Qualification | Child gets DLA care middle or highest rate |
| Hours of care | 35+ hours per week |
| Earnings limit | Under £151/week (after deductions) |
| Who can claim | One person per child |
Universal Credit Disability Additions
If you’re on UC and your child receives DLA:
| DLA Level | UC Disabled Child Addition |
|---|---|
| DLA at any rate | £156.11/month |
| DLA highest rate care | Additional £487.58/month (severely disabled child element) |
The severely disabled child element adds nearly £6,000/year to your UC.
Other Financial Support
| Support | What It Provides |
|---|---|
| Blue Badge | Free disabled parking |
| Motability scheme | Lease a car using DLA higher rate mobility |
| Free or reduced school transport | From your local council |
| Direct payments | Money from the council to arrange care |
| Short breaks/respite | Council-funded breaks for carers |
| Disabled Facilities Grant | Home adaptations (up to £30,000 in England) |
| Family Fund | Grants for essential items (low-income families) |
| Contact (formerly Contact a Family) | Grants and support |
Family Fund
The Family Fund provides grants for:
- Computers and tablets
- Holidays
- White goods
- Clothing
- Sensory equipment
- Family days out
Apply through familyfund.org.uk. You must be on a low income and have a severely disabled or seriously ill child.
Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG)
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Maximum grant | £30,000 (England), £36,000 (Wales) |
| What it covers | Home adaptations — ramps, stairlifts, bathroom conversions |
| Means-tested | Not for children — mandatory grant |
| How to apply | Through your local council |
For children, the DFG is mandatory — it’s not means-tested against the family’s income.
Education Support
| Support | Detail |
|---|---|
| Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) | Legally enforceable plan of support |
| Special Educational Needs (SEN) support | Extra help in mainstream school |
| Special school placement | If mainstream isn’t appropriate |
| Transport to school | Free if needed due to disability |
| Free school meals | If on qualifying benefit |
Transition at 16
When your child approaches 16:
| Change | Detail |
|---|---|
| DLA to PIP | DWP contacts you before 16th birthday |
| Scotland: DLA to ADP | Social Security Scotland manages the transition |
| UC disabled child element | Continues while in education |
| Carer’s Allowance | Continues if you still provide 35+ hours care |
| EHCP | Can continue until age 25 |
Preparing for PIP Transition
- Keep all medical evidence updated
- Get fresh letters from consultants and therapists
- Document daily care needs in a diary
- Consider getting help from a welfare rights adviser
Claiming DLA for Your Child
The Form
- Form name: DLA1 Child
- Available from gov.uk or call 0800 121 4600
- The form is detailed — allow several hours to complete it
- Describe your child’s worst days, not average days
- Include examples of specific incidents
Supporting Evidence
- Letters from consultants, paediatricians
- Reports from therapists (speech, occupational, physio)
- School reports detailing support needed
- Any formal diagnosis letters
- Care plans from social services
Tips
- Complete a diary for two weeks before filling in the form
- Describe what happens if help isn’t provided — not just what you do
- Be specific — “falls over 3-4 times a day” not “is unsteady”
- Don’t minimise — parents often understate their child’s needs
- Get help — welfare rights advisers, Citizens Advice, or Scope can assist