Benefit
Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
Support for children under 16 with a disability or health condition — most adults now claim PIP instead, but existing adult DLA claimants can continue on it in some cases.
Who it's for
DLA for children helps with the extra costs of looking after a child who needs much more looking after than a child of the same age without a disability. Adults can no longer make brand-new DLA claims — PIP replaced it for working-age adults, though some existing older claimants remain on DLA.
- Child is under 16
- They need substantially more care, supervision or help getting around than a child of the same age generally would
- The extra needs have lasted, or are expected to last, at least 3 months, and are expected to continue for at least 6 more months (unless terminally ill)
What you may get (2026/27 rates)
DLA has a care component and a mobility component, each paid at different rates depending on need.
- Care component — highest: £114.60 a week
- Care component — middle: £76.70 a week
- Care component — lowest: £30.30 a week
- Mobility component — higher: £80.00 a week
- Mobility component — lower: £30.30 a week
Frequently asked questions
BenefitsPlanner is an independent planning tool. It is not GOV.UK, DWP, HMRC, your local authority, or the NHS, and nothing here is an official entitlement decision. Always check current rules on GOV.UK or with the relevant authority.