Disability Living Allowance (DLA) UK Guide 2025

What Is DLA?

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is a tax-free benefit from the UK government that helps with the extra costs of living with a disability. Since April 2013, DLA for new claimants aged 16 and over has been replaced by Personal Independence Payment (PIP). However, DLA remains the correct benefit for children under the age of 16.

DLA has two components: the care component (for children who need more attention or supervision than a child of the same age without a disability) and the mobility component (for children who have difficulty walking or getting around). A child can receive one or both components, and each component has different rates depending on the level of need.

DLA Rates 2025/26

DLA rates are uprated in April each year in line with inflation. The following rates apply for the 2025/26 tax year (from April 2025):

DLA is paid every four weeks, so the actual payment received is the weekly rate multiplied by four. For example, highest rate care (£108.55) + higher rate mobility (£75.75) = £184.30 per week = £737.20 every four weeks.

Care Component

The care component covers the additional help a disabled child needs with personal care, supervision, or watching over, compared to a child of the same age without a disability.

Lowest Rate Care Component (£28.70/week)

Your child qualifies for the lowest rate care component if they need attention from another person for a significant portion of the day in connection with their bodily functions, OR if they cannot prepare a cooked main meal themselves (this is really a test of safety and ability rather than actual cooking).

Middle Rate Care Component (£72.65/week)

Your child qualifies for the middle rate care component if they need:

• Frequent attention throughout the day in connection with their bodily functions, OR
• Continual supervision throughout the day to avoid substantial danger to themselves or others, OR
• Repeated or prolonged attention at night in connection with their bodily functions, OR
• Another person to be awake for a prolonged period or at frequent intervals to watch over them at night

Highest Rate Care Component (£108.55/week)

Your child qualifies for the highest rate if they need help with bodily functions or supervision during the day and also need attention or watching over at night. In other words, the needs are present both day and night.

A child with a terminal illness automatically receives the highest rate care component from the date of the claim.

Mobility Component

The mobility component covers difficulty walking or getting around. Children must be aged at least 3 to claim the lower rate, and at least 5 to claim the higher rate.

Lower Rate Mobility Component (£28.70/week)

Your child qualifies for the lower rate if they can walk but need guidance or supervision from another person when walking outdoors in unfamiliar places due to their physical or mental disability. This is often relevant for children with learning disabilities, autism, or mental health conditions who cannot safely navigate independently.

Higher Rate Mobility Component (£75.75/week)

Your child qualifies for the higher rate if they:

• Are unable or virtually unable to walk, OR
• The effort of walking would be dangerous to their life or lead to a serious deterioration in their health, OR
• Have no legs or feet, OR
• Are both deaf and blind (severe visual and hearing impairment), OR
• Are severely mentally impaired with severe behavioural problems (combined)

The higher rate mobility component is what unlocks access to the Motability Scheme and a Blue Badge for your child.

Eligibility Rules

To claim DLA for a child, the following conditions must be met:

• The child must be under 16 years old
• The child must be resident in Great Britain and have been present for at least 26 of the last 52 weeks (some exceptions apply)
• The child’s care or mobility needs must be substantially greater than those of a child of the same age without a disability
• The needs must have lasted for at least 3 months and be expected to continue for at least 6 more months (the ‘qualifying period’ and ‘prospective test’)
• Terminal illness: exempt from the qualifying period; qualify immediately

DLA is not means-tested — your family’s income and savings do not affect eligibility or the amount. DLA is also not affected by whether the child is in school or hospital, though some rules apply for residential care placements.

Qualifying Period

The qualifying period rule means that your child must have had the care or mobility needs for at least 3 months before the claim can be awarded. This does not mean you have to wait 3 months before applying — you should apply as soon as possible, but DLA will only be paid from 3 months after the need began (if the claim is successful).

How to Claim DLA for a Child

1. Call the DWP DLA helpline on 0800 121 4600 to request a claim pack (form DLA1 Child). Lines are open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. You can also download the form from gov.uk.
2. Complete the form thoroughly. Describe your child’s needs in detail — focus on bad days, not average days. Include all the help they need and why, with specific examples.
3. Gather supporting evidence: letters from the child’s GP, paediatrician, school (SENCO), occupational therapist, or other professionals. Evidence is not mandatory but greatly strengthens the claim.
4. Submit the completed form by post to the address on the form (the Disability Benefit Centre).
5. DWP will send an acknowledgement. A decision is usually made within 40 days, though complex claims can take longer.
6. If refused or awarded at a lower rate than expected, you have one month to request a Mandatory Reconsideration. If still unsuccessful, you can appeal to the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal.

Reviewing DLA

DLA awards are not always indefinite. Many awards have a fixed end date, especially for conditions where improvement is expected. DWP may review the award before it expires or at the end date. You must report changes in your child’s condition — both improvements and deteriorations — to DWP promptly.

When an award ends, you can make a renewal claim. Some awards (for permanent conditions) are awarded indefinitely, meaning there is no review date. In practice, DWP may still contact you for a review at any time.

Transition to PIP at Age 16

When a child receiving DLA approaches their 16th birthday, DWP will write to the family inviting the young person to make a new claim for Personal Independence Payment (PIP). DLA does not automatically become PIP — a new application and assessment are required.

The PIP process involves a written application and usually a face-to-face or telephone assessment with a healthcare professional. The assessment criteria are different from DLA, and not all children who receive DLA will be awarded PIP at the equivalent level (or at all). It is important to understand PIP’s daily living and mobility descriptors when preparing the application.

DLA as a Passport to Other Benefits

DLA can unlock access to a range of other benefits and schemes for the child and their family:

• Carer’s Allowance: A parent or carer who spends 35+ hours per week caring for a child receiving the middle or highest rate care component of DLA may be entitled to Carer’s Allowance (£81.90/week in 2025/26).
• Disability premium: Receiving DLA at any rate can trigger the disability premium in means-tested benefits such as Income Support, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, and legacy ESA.
• Universal Credit: Receiving DLA can entitle the household to the disabled child element or severely disabled child element of Universal Credit.
• Blue Badge: A child receiving the higher rate mobility component of DLA automatically qualifies for a Blue Badge.
• Motability Scheme: Higher rate mobility component of DLA qualifies for the Motability Scheme for children aged 3 and over.
• Free school meals and other local support: Some local authorities use DLA as a passport for free school meals or other local support for disabled children.
• Tax credits / child tax credit: Receiving DLA can increase the child element in legacy tax credit claims.

Frequently Asked Questions

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