What is DLA for children?
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is a benefit for children under 16 who need much more help with everyday care, or with getting around, than other children their age. It applies in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. DLA has two parts, a care part and a mobility part, and a child can get one or both. It is tax-free, it is not means-tested, and it is not based on National Insurance contributions, so your income, savings and work history do not affect it.
Reviewed by SENlens. Last reviewed June 2026. Checked against GOV.UK, Citizens Advice, Contact and Cerebra.
The care part
The care part is for children who need much more looking after than a child of the same age who does not have a disability. There is no age limit on the care part, so even a baby can qualify if they need a lot more care than other babies of the same age. The care part has three rates.
- Lowest rate: help for some of the day.
- Middle rate: frequent help or constant supervision during the day, or supervision at night.
- Highest rate: help or supervision throughout both day and night, or the child is nearing the end of their life.
The mobility part
The mobility part is for children who need help getting around outdoors. Unlike the care part, it has age gates: the higher rate is available from age 3, and the lower rate from age 5. The mobility part has two rates.
- Lower rate: can walk but needs help or supervision outdoors (available from age 5).
- Higher rate: cannot walk, can only walk a short distance, or it is very difficult or unsafe to walk (available from age 3).
A note on the rates
DLA rates, and the amount of money that comes with each one, are set by the Department for Work and Pensions and can change each year. Please check GOV.UK for the current rates and amounts before you rely on anything here. See the current rates on GOV.UK.
The 3 and 6 month rule
Usually a child needs to have had these difficulties for at least 3 months and be expected to have them for at least 6 more months. This 3-month wait does not apply when a child is nearing the end of their life, when the highest rate of the care part applies automatically.
DLA and PIP
DLA for children is for under-16s. From 16, young people claim Personal Independence Payment (PIP) instead. If your child already gets DLA, they will be invited to claim PIP as they approach 16. Our how to claim page explains what happens at 16 in more detail.
Living in Scotland?
Children in Scotland do not claim DLA. They claim Child Disability Payment from Social Security Scotland, which works in a similar way with a care part and a mobility part.