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Benefits for children with special needs

 
If you have a child under 16 with a physical or mental illness or disability, you may be able to claim benefits and tax credits. Many families miss out because they do not know they can claim.

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is a tax-free benefit which can be worth more than £5,000 a year. It is paid to help meet the extra cost of bringing up a disabled child or a child with other long-term additional support needs. These include emotional and behavioural problems or mental health support needs, long-term illnesses (such as asthma and eczema), developmental delay or other learning disability.

It can be paid whether you are working or not and will not reduce any other benefits or tax credits you get.  DLA is paid on top of any other money, benefits and savings you or your child have.

How to claim Disability Living Allowance

To claim DLA, your child must have needed help for at least three months. However, if your child is terminally ill, you can get help straight away.

Call the Benefit Enquiry Line to claim on 0800 882 200 and ask for a form (textphone users should call 0800 243 355).

Other benefits

If you get DLA for your child, your other benefits (such as Child Tax Credit and Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit) may increase.  You may also be able to get other benefits such as:

Over 16 with special needs

At the age of 16, young people with disabilities can usually choose to claim benefits in their own right (even if they are still at school or college) or remain as part of your claim. In most cases you will be better off if you continue to claim for your child. But it is important to get full benefits advice about this to be sure that you don’t miss out.

See over 16 with special needs for details or call us for advice.

Further information

Contact Greenwich Welfare Rights Service - using the number on the right or our online enquiry form - to find out more about DLA and other benefits you may be able to claim.

You can also download the detailed leaflet, Benefits for Children with Special Needs.

You could also claim DLA if you are an adult under 65 with an illness or disability.

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