PIP for Children Under 16 - What Benefits Can Your Child Get?

Children under 16 cannot claim PIP. Instead, they claim Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children. DLA is a separate benefit with different rules, but serves a similar purpose - providing financial support for disabled children and their families.

DLA for Children vs PIP

DLA for children has two components, like PIP:

• Care component - three rates: lower (£30.30/week), middle (£76.70/week), and higher (£114.60/week)
• Mobility component - two rates: lower (£30.30/week) and higher (£80.00/week). The higher rate is only available from age 3, and the lower rate from age 5.

Unlike PIP, DLA doesn't use a points system or descriptors. Instead, it compares your child's needs with those of a non-disabled child of the same age. If your child needs substantially more help or supervision than other children their age, they may qualify.

When Does DLA Change to PIP?

Shortly after your child's 16th birthday, the DWP will write to invite them to claim PIP. If they apply by the date given in the letter, their DLA continues until a PIP decision is made. The PIP assessment uses different criteria (the 12 activities and descriptors), so the award may change.

Common Conditions in Children's DLA Claims

The most common conditions include autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, type 1 diabetes, epilepsy, cerebral palsy and severe allergies. For any of these, the key is describing how much extra help your child needs compared to other children the same age.

How to Claim DLA for Your Child

Call 0800 121 4600 to request a claim form. The form is long (around 40 pages) but thorough. For each question, compare what your child needs with what a non-disabled child of the same age would need. Don't describe what your child CAN do - describe what extra help they need.

What DLA Unlocks

Like PIP, DLA can unlock additional support:

• Carer's Allowance for you if you provide 35+ hours of care per week
• Carer element of Universal Credit
• Blue Badge (higher rate mobility)
• Motability (higher rate mobility, from age 3)
• Council tax reduction
• Additional UC payments

DLA Care Component Rates Explained

• Lower rate (£30.30/week, around £131/month): Some help with personal care during the day OR help preparing a cooked main meal (this test only applies from age 16, so it does not apply to under-16s).
• Middle rate (£76.70/week, around £332/month): Frequent help during the day OR continual supervision OR significant help at night.
• Higher rate (£114.60/week, around £497/month): Help day AND night OR terminally ill (under Special Rules SR1).

Most successful DLA claims for children with autism, ADHD, learning disabilities and chronic illness receive middle rate care. Higher rate typically requires significant nighttime care (e.g. severe epilepsy with seizures, type 1 diabetes with overnight glucose monitoring, severe autism with night waking and challenging behaviour).

DLA Mobility Component for Children

Mobility for children works differently from PIP:

• Lower rate mobility (£30.30/week): Available from age 5. For children who can walk but need guidance, supervision or are unsafe outdoors due to disability.
• Higher rate mobility (£80.00/week): Available from age 3. For children who are "virtually unable to walk" or have severe behavioural problems making them unsafe.

Higher rate mobility under "severe behavioural difficulties" is a specific category for children with autism, learning disabilities or other conditions causing dangerous behaviour outdoors. Documentation must show consistent severe behaviour and need for constant supervision/restraint.

How to Describe Care Needs Effectively

The key DLA principle: compare to a non-disabled child of the same age. Examples:

• 10-year-old with autism: "Needs help dressing because of sensory issues with clothing - 30 minutes daily. Other 10-year-olds dress themselves in 5 minutes."
• 7-year-old with ADHD: "Cannot be left alone for safety reasons. Needs constant supervision during meals, in the bathroom, getting dressed. Other 7-year-olds manage these unsupervised."
• 13-year-old with type 1 diabetes: "Needs help with insulin calculations 4x daily, blood glucose checks 6x daily, including 2-3 night checks. Hypoglycaemia risks require constant adult vigilance."
• 9-year-old with severe eczema: "Needs 45 minutes of skin care twice daily. Bandages need changing 3x daily. Other children do not need this help."

Special Rules for Terminal Illness (SR1) for Children

If your child has a terminal illness expected to result in death within 12 months, DLA fast-track applies. Higher rate care is automatic. The SR1 form is completed by a medical professional, for example the consultant. Decision usually within days. This is rarely needed but important to know about.

The "Substantial" Test for Children Under 5

For children under 5, the test for the care component is whether they need "substantially more attention or supervision than other children of the same age." A typical 2-year-old needs a lot of attention. A disabled 2-year-old must need significantly MORE. Document:

• Number of times you must intervene per day
• Specific behaviours requiring intervention (self-harm, food refusal, dangerous behaviour)
• Medical care needed (medication, monitoring, equipment)
• Therapy and appointment burden (multiple weekly sessions)
• Things this child needs that other 2-year-olds do not

What DLA Unlocks for Families

• Disabled Child Element of UC: £164.79/month (any DLA award)
• Severely Disabled Child Element of UC: £514.71/month (DLA highest rate care component, or the child is blind or severely sight impaired)
• Carer's Allowance for a parent: £86.45/week if providing 35+ hours care AND child receives middle/higher rate care
• Carer Element of UC: £209.34/month (alternative to Carer's Allowance)
• Free school transport for some children with disability
• Direct Payments from social services for short breaks or respite
• Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP) support
• Council tax disability reduction

Frequently Asked Questions

My child was diagnosed at school. Is that too late to claim?

No. You can claim DLA at any age from birth to 15. There's no requirement to have been diagnosed early. Many children with autism, ADHD, or learning difficulties aren't diagnosed until school age - claim as soon as you realise they need significantly more help than other children their age.

My child manages well at school. Can I still claim?

School is a structured environment with professional support. What matters for DLA is what help your child needs OUTSIDE school - at home, during holidays, overnight. Many children mask their difficulties at school and fall apart at home. Describe the home reality.

Will my income affect my child's DLA?

No. DLA is not means-tested. Family income, savings and capital do not affect eligibility. Your child either qualifies based on need or does not.

What happens at 16?

The DWP writes to invite your child to claim PIP shortly after their 16th birthday. If they apply by the date given in the letter, DLA continues until a PIP decision is made. PIP uses different criteria so the award can change up or down. Many young people lose money during the transition because forms are completed in DLA language not PIP language.

Can my child claim DLA while at boarding school or residential setting?

Generally yes for the care component during school holidays. Some restrictions apply if the local authority funds the placement. Get specialist advice from Contact a Family or your local welfare rights service.

My child has multiple conditions - do I list them all?

Yes. List every diagnosis. The cumulative impact is what matters. A child with autism + ADHD + learning disability + epilepsy + eczema has much higher care needs than a child with one condition.

How long does the DLA form take?

Many parents take 4-8 weeks to complete the form thoroughly. Use the full 6 weeks the DWP allows (with possible extension). The Disability Living Foundation, Contact a Family and Scope provide free help. Many local authority disability services offer form-filling appointments.

Should I ask for a paper assessment or face-to-face?

DLA for children is almost always decided on paper without face-to-face assessment. Submit comprehensive evidence (medical reports, school SENCO statements, therapy reports) to support a paper decision.