❌ Myth 1: "My child needs a diagnosis."

Not true. DLA isn't based on a diagnosis or the name of a condition. It's about how much extra care, supervision or help your child needs compared with other children of the same age. Many families claim while they're still waiting for assessments.

❌ Myth 2: "It's only for children with physical disabilities."

Not true. DLA covers a wide range of needs, including conditions such as autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, epilepsy, diabetes, and mental health conditions, as well as physical disabilities. What matters is the extra help your child needs, not the type of condition.

❌ Myth 3: "My child isn't disabled enough."

Not true. DLA has three levels of care and two levels of mobility, so it's designed for a range of needs, not just the most severe. The lowest care rate is for children who need some help for part of the day.

❌ Myth 4: "It's means-tested, so we won't qualify."

Not true. DLA isn't means-tested. Your income, savings and whether you work don't affect it. It's tax-free, and families on any income can claim.

❌ Myth 5: "Only parents can claim."

Not true. Anyone who is responsible for the child can claim, including grandparents, other relatives and kinship carers. If you're raising someone else's child, it's worth a look (we covered kinship care under K).

❌ Myth 6: "My child's too young."

Not true. A child can be claimed for from 3 months old. Mobility has age limits: the higher rate from age 3 and the lower rate from age 5. Babies and toddlers need to show they need substantially more care than other children their age, which may be tricky for very young ones, but it's not impossible.

❌ Myth 7: "It'll reduce our other benefits."

Not true. DLA doesn't count as income for Universal Credit. It can actually increase other help:

• The disabled child element in Universal Credit
• Carer's Allowance for the person looking after your child, if they get the middle or highest care rate and the carer provides at least 35 hours a week of care
• Other support linked to being the parent or carer of a disabled child, such as certain council help and the Motability scheme (with the higher mobility rate)

A quick benefits check is always worth doing.

❌ Myth 8: "I work, or my child is at school, so we can't claim."

Not true. DLA isn't linked to whether you work or whether your child is in school. It's about the care and support your child needs. Plenty of working parents and children in school claim.

❌ Myth 9: "We've only just started needing help, so we'll have to wait years."

Not true. Your child normally needs to have needed extra help for 3 months, and the need is expected to last at least 6 more months. There's no need to wait years. There are special rules for terminal illness.

❌ Myth 10: "If we're turned down, that's the end."

Not true. Many families are turned down first time and succeed later. You can:

1. Ask for a Mandatory Reconsideration (usually within one month of the decision)
2. Appeal to an independent tribunal if you still disagree

Many decisions are changed, so please don't give up.

❌ Myth 11: "Once we've got it, it's for life."

Not quite. Awards are often for a fixed period, so it may be reviewed. Tell the DWP if your child's needs change. At 16, your child will normally be invited to move to PIP, so keep an eye out for a letter.

❌ Myth 12: "The amount is too small to bother with."

Not true. The weekly rates (from April 2026) are:

• Care: £30.30 (lowest), £76.70 (middle) or £114.60 (highest)
• Mobility: £30.30 (lower) or £80.00 (higher)

That's up to £194.60 a week. Plus, getting DLA can open the door to Carer's Allowance, extra Universal Credit and other help.

✅ The truth in a nutshell

• DLA is for children under 16 with extra care or mobility needs. New adult claims aren't possible, as adults apply for PIP instead.
• You don't need a diagnosis, and it's not means-tested.
• Anyone responsible for the child can claim.
• It's tax-free, and it can unlock other benefits.
• If you're turned down, challenge it. Many families succeed.
• Contact (the charity for families with disabled children) and Citizens Advice offer free help with the claim form, which is long, so give yourself plenty of time.

💬 Know a family who might be missing out?

Please tell them! Many parents don't realise their child could qualify, especially if the condition isn't obvious. And if you've been through the DLA process, we'd love you to share your tips on the forum. Your story could help someone take that first step. 🫶

Rates are correct for 2026/27, but always double-check on GOV.UK. In Scotland, DLA for children has been replaced by Child Disability Payment, which pays the same rates and works in much the same way. Northern Ireland has its own arrangements, so check Nidirect.

A new report from the think tank Policy Exchange is calling on the government to stop paying Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to children with three types of condition. It points to a sharp rise in claims, with around 915,000 children now receiving DLA across England and Wales, at a cost of £5.3bn a year.

Which conditions does it name?

The report names behavioural disorders (including eating disorders and conduct disorders), hyperkinetic syndrome (mainy ADHD), and learning difficulties, which in the old DWP categories includes autism and Down's syndrome.

Is this actually changing?

No, not at the moment. This is a recommendation from a think tank, not a government decision. Nothing has changed to the rules, and children's DLA claims and payments carry on as normal.

What should I do?

• Keep going as you are. If your child gets DLA, you don't need to do anything.
• Don't be put off claiming. If you think your child might qualify, you can still apply. We covered DLA under D, including the current rates.
• Keep your evidence up to date. Letters from doctors, schools and support workers are always helpful.
• Stay informed. If the government ever proposes a change, we'll share it here.

It's completely understandable if this has made you anxious. Proposals like this get lots of attention, and many people have strong feelings about them. If you'd like to talk it through, or share how DLA helps your family, you're very welcome to on the forum. 🫶

Rules change often, so always double-check on GOV.UK. In Scotland, DLA for children has been replaced by Child Disability Payment

How much is it? (weekly rates from April 2026)

Care component (for extra help with personal care or supervision)

• Highest rate: £114.60. Help needed day and night, or terminally ill.
• Middle rate: £76.70. Help needed frequently through the day or during the night.
• Lowest rate: £30.30. Some help needed for part of the day.

Mobility component (for help getting around)

• Higher rate: £80.00. For children with severe walking difficulties, from age 3.
• Lower rate: £30.30. For children who can walk but need guidance or supervision outdoors, from age 5.

So the most a child can get is £194.60 a week (highest care plus higher mobility).

Good things to know:

• It's not means-tested, so your income and savings don't matter.
• It isn't based on a diagnosis. It's about how much extra care or supervision your child needs compared with other children their age.
• The middle or highest care rate can unlock Carer's Allowance if you care for them 35 hours or more a week.
• It can also bring extra help like the disabled child element in Universal Credit.
• The mobility component can help get a Motability car or a Blue Badge too.
• Children usually have to be at least 3 months old and have needed extra help for 3 months, with the need expected to last at least another 6 months (there are some exceptions, such as terminal illness).
• When your child turns 16, they'll usually be invited to move over to PIP, so keep an eye out for the letter from DWP.

Where to start: you can request a claim form from the DWP, and it's a long one, so give yourself plenty of time! Contact and Citizens Advice offer free help with filling it in. 🫶

Rates are correct for 2026/27, but always double-check on GOV.UK. In Scotland, DLA for children has been replaced by Child Disability Payment, which pays the same rates. Adults can't make new claims for DLA, as they apply for PIP instead.