You Might Be Entitled to Help
Raising a disabled or neurodivergent child is expensive. Extra equipment, therapy, specialist food, lost income from caring. Benefits exist to help. But the system is confusing and many families miss out.
🚨 Common Myths:
- ❌ "You need a diagnosis to claim" - FALSE: You can claim based on needs, not diagnosis
- ❌ "Only severe disabilities qualify" - FALSE: Autism, ADHD, mental health conditions all qualify if impact is significant
- ❌ "It's means-tested" - FALSE: DLA/PIP and Carers Allowance are NOT means-tested
- ❌ "I work so I can't claim" - FALSE: You can work and claim (some benefits)
- ❌ "It's for physical disabilities only" - FALSE: Mental health, learning, behavioral needs all count
What's Available (England, Wales, Scotland)
| Benefit |
For Who |
Amount (2025) |
| DLA (Disability Living Allowance) |
Disabled children under 16 |
£28-£184/week |
| PIP (Personal Independence Payment) |
Disabled people 16+ |
£28-£184/week |
| Carer's Allowance |
Carers providing 35+ hours/week care |
£81.90/week |
| Universal Credit (UC) |
Low income families |
Varies (includes disabled child element) |
| Child Tax Credit |
Families not on UC (legacy benefit) |
Includes disabled child element |
| Council Tax Reduction |
Anyone on low income or benefits |
Up to 100% off |
| Free School Meals |
Children in low income families |
Worth ~£400/year |
| Healthy Start |
Pregnant women/children under 4 on benefits |
£8.50/week vouchers |
Note: Northern Ireland has different benefits. Check NI Direct for details.
DLA (Disability Living Allowance) for Children
The main benefit for disabled children under 16. NOT means-tested—you can earn any amount and still qualify.
📋 What Is DLA?
DLA has 2 components:
- Care component: Help with personal care, supervision, attention
- Mobility component: Help getting around
You can get one or both components. They're assessed separately.
💰 DLA Rates (2025)
Care Component:
- Lowest rate: £28.70/week - needs help with personal care or supervision for significant portion of day
- Middle rate: £72.65/week - frequent help or constant supervision during day OR supervision at night
- Highest rate: £108.55/week - help day AND night, or terminally ill
Mobility Component:
- Lower rate: £28.70/week - needs guidance/supervision outdoors (can claim from age 3)
- Higher rate: £75.75/week - cannot walk or virtually cannot walk, or severe behavioral/learning difficulties outdoors (can claim from age 3)
✅ Who Qualifies?
Your child may qualify if they need substantially more help than a non-disabled child of the same age with:
- Personal care: Washing, dressing, eating, toileting, taking medication
- Supervision: To avoid danger to self or others
- Attention: During the day or night
- Mobility: Walking, getting around outdoors
Common qualifying conditions:
- Autism (need for supervision, help with personal care, behavioral challenges outdoors)
- ADHD (supervision due to impulsivity, risk-taking)
- Learning disabilities (help with all daily tasks)
- Mental health conditions (supervision during crisis, help with self-care)
- Physical disabilities, chronic illness, sensory impairments
⚠️ Important:
- Compare to same age: A 3-year-old needs help dressing anyway, so your 3-year-old must need SIGNIFICANTLY more help than typical
- Don't minimize: Describe your worst days, not best days
- Include hidden needs: Prompting, reminding, supervising counts as "help"
How to Apply for DLA
📞 Step 1: Contact DWP
Call: 0800 121 4600 (textphone: 0800 121 4523)
Lines open: Mon-Fri 9am-5pm
What happens: They'll ask basic questions and send you a claim pack in the post.
📝 Step 2: Complete the Form
The DLA form is LONG. 40+ pages. Give yourself time—don't rush it.
Before you start:
- Keep a diary for 2 weeks of ALL help your child needs
- Gather supporting evidence (reports, letters from professionals)
- Read the form thoroughly first
- Get help from Citizens Advice, Carers UK, Contact, or IPSEA
- Make a copy before sending (you'll need it for reviews/appeals)
✍️ Writing Tips
Be specific and detailed:
- Not: "Needs help getting dressed"
- Better: "I have to physically dress him every morning (10 mins). He can't manage buttons, zips, or socks. I choose clothes as he can't make decisions. I prompt him 5-10 times or he'd stay in pajamas all day."
Include frequency and time:
- "How often?" → "Every single day" / "3-4 times per day"
- "How long?" → "20 minutes each time"
Explain WHY they need help:
- "Can't dress himself due to poor fine motor skills and executive function difficulties (ADHD)"
- "Needs constant supervision outdoors as no sense of danger—has run into road twice"
Describe consequences without help:
- "Without supervision, would walk off and get lost"
- "If I don't prompt, won't eat or drink all day"
- "Without reminders, doesn't use toilet and has accidents"
🚨 Common Mistakes:
- ❌ Being too positive ("managing well") - they'll think you don't need help
- ❌ Leaving sections blank - write "N/A" or "Not applicable" if it doesn't apply
- ❌ Focusing on diagnosis not impact - it's about what help they NEED
- ❌ Forgetting night-time needs - supervision at night counts!
- ❌ Not mentioning behavioral difficulties - meltdowns, aggression, self-harm all relevant
📮 Step 3: Send It Back
- Include ALL supporting evidence (reports, letters)
- Keep a copy of EVERYTHING
- Send by recorded delivery (proof of postage)
- Note the date you sent it
After You Apply for DLA
⏰ What to Expect
- They acknowledge receipt (within 2 weeks)
- They make a decision (6-12 weeks typically, can be longer)
- You receive a letter with decision
No face-to-face assessment for DLA (unlike PIP) - decision made on paper.
✅ If Awarded
Your letter will state:
- Which components and rates you've been awarded
- Weekly amount
- Start date (usually date of claim)
- End date (can be fixed term or indefinite)
Payment:
- Paid every 4 weeks into your bank account
- First payment includes backdated amount from date of claim
- NOT taxable, doesn't affect other benefits (except means-tested ones)
What it unlocks:
- Higher rate mobility: Motability car scheme (exchange mobility for car lease)
- Any rate DLA: Blue Badge (disabled parking)
- Any rate DLA: Carer's Allowance for your carer
- Any rate DLA: Extra £72/month in Universal Credit (disabled child element)
- Highest rate care: Extra £35/month in UC (severely disabled child element)
❌ If Refused or Low Award
Don't panic. You can challenge it.
Step 1: Mandatory Reconsideration (MR)
- Write within 1 month of decision letter
- Explain why you disagree
- Provide any additional evidence
- DWP reviews decision (4-8 weeks)
Step 2: Appeal to Tribunal
- If MR unsuccessful, you can appeal
- Register appeal within 1 month of MR decision
- 65-70% of appeals succeed - don't give up!
- Get free help from Citizens Advice, IPSEA, or welfare rights
⚠️ If Partially Awarded:
You might get one component but not the other, or a lower rate than expected. You can challenge this too—ask for MR on the parts you disagree with.
🔄 Reviews & Renewals
DLA isn't forever. If awarded for a fixed term, you'll need to reapply before it ends.
- DWP should send renewal pack ~20 weeks before end date
- If they don't, chase them (don't let it lapse!)
- Complete renewal form same way as original application
Carer's Allowance
💼 What Is Carer's Allowance?
Weekly payment for people caring for someone disabled.
- Amount: £81.90/week (2025)
- Not means-tested (but earnings limit applies)
- Can claim even if you live with the disabled person
- Can claim even if related to them
✅ Who Qualifies?
You must:
- Care for someone at least 35 hours per week
- The person you care for gets DLA middle/high care, PIP daily living, or Attendance Allowance
- You're 16 or over
- Not in full-time education (21+ hours/week)
- Earn less than £151/week after tax (can work part-time)
⚠️ The Earnings Trap:
Earn £151 or more per week? You lose ALL Carer's Allowance (not just the excess). But you get National Insurance credits and Carer Premium in other benefits, so still claim!
How to Claim:
- Apply online: www.gov.uk/carers-allowance
- Or phone: 0800 731 0297
- Need the disabled person's DLA/PIP award letter
- Decision usually within 6 weeks
PIP (Personal Independence Payment) Age 16+
When your child turns 16, DLA stops and they claim PIP instead.
PIP has 2 components:
- Daily Living: Help with daily tasks (care needs)
- Mobility: Help getting around
Rates (2025):
- Standard rate (both components): £72.65/week
- Enhanced rate (both components): £108.55/week (daily living) or £75.75/week (mobility)
🚨 PIP vs DLA:
PIP is HARDER to get than DLA. Reasons:
- Face-to-face assessment (assessor visits or you attend center)
- Higher threshold for points
- Different criteria (activities of daily living, not just "help needed")
- More refusals and appeals needed
When transitioning from DLA to PIP at 16, get advice from welfare rights before applying.
Other Financial Help
💳 Family Fund
Charity providing grants for families with disabled children.
- Who qualifies: Families on low income with disabled child under 18
- What you can get: £500-£2,000 grants for essential items
- Examples: Washing machines, beds, tablets, sensory equipment, family breaks, driving lessons
- Apply: www.familyfund.org.uk (form takes 30 mins)
- Decision: 10-12 weeks
No diagnosis needed - evidence of impact is enough.
🏛️ Council Tax Reduction
- Apply to your local council
- Can get 25-100% off council tax if on low income or benefits
- Disabled Band Reduction: If your home has adaptations for disability (extra bathroom, wheelchair access), you may get reduction even if not on low income
💧 Water & Energy Help
Many utilities offer social tariffs or priority services:
- Water: WaterSure scheme (caps bills for large families/medical needs)
- Energy: Warm Home Discount (£150 off winter bill if on benefits)
- Priority Services Register: Extra help during outages, advance notice of work
- Contact your suppliers to ask what's available
📱 Social Tariffs (Broadband/Mobile)
- If on Universal Credit or certain benefits, you can get discounted broadband/mobile
- Check: BT, Virgin, Sky, Vodafone, VOXI
- Savings: £10-£20/month
🚗 Motability Scheme
If your child gets higher rate mobility DLA/PIP:
- Exchange their mobility component for a car lease
- Includes insurance, servicing, breakdown cover, tyres
- Can nominate 3 drivers (doesn't have to be child)
- Wide range of cars, some with no advance payment
- Apply: www.motability.co.uk
Alternative: Keep the £75/week mobility to help with transport costs instead.
🅿️ Blue Badge
- Who qualifies: Any child getting DLA mobility (or PIP mobility), or certain conditions (blindness, arms, learning disabilities affecting mobility)
- Apply: Through your local council (online or by post)
- Cost: Usually free or small admin fee (£10-£20)
- Valid: 3 years (free renewal)
- What it allows: Park in disabled bays, free parking in some areas, park on yellow lines (England only, 3 hours max)
Getting Help With Claims
✓ Free Benefits Advice From:
- Citizens Advice: www.citizensadvice.org.uk | 0800 144 8848
Free advice, form-filling help, representation at tribunals
- Contact (for disabled children): contact.org.uk | 0808 808 3555
DLA helpline, guides, template letters
- Carers UK: www.carersuk.org | 0808 808 7777
Carer's Allowance advice
- Turn2Us: www.turn2us.org.uk
Benefits calculator, grants search
- IPSEA: www.ipsea.org.uk
DLA advice specifically for children with SEND
- Local welfare rights services: Search "[your council] welfare rights" - many councils have free services
Benefits Myths Busted
- ❌ "I work so can't claim" → DLA/PIP NOT means-tested. Doesn't matter what you earn.
- ❌ "Need a diagnosis" → No. Needs matter, not labels. Apply based on impact.
- ❌ "Benefits are for poor people" → Disability benefits recognize extra costs, not income.
- ❌ "They'll think I'm scrounging" → It's YOUR money. You pay tax. Don't be ashamed.
- ❌ "Too complicated" → Get help! Don't leave money on the table.
- ❌ "They'll investigate me" → Fraud checks rare. If you're honest, you're fine.
Final Thoughts
You're not asking for charity. You're claiming what you're entitled to.
Raising a disabled child costs more. Lost income from caring. Therapy. Equipment. Specialist food. Travel to appointments. The system recognizes this—that's why these benefits exist.
Don't feel guilty. Don't minimize your child's needs. Don't give up if refused.
Get help filling forms. Appeal if rejected. This money makes a real difference. You deserve it. 💜