Benefits - Children Factsheet
Providing you are eligible for benefits, one parent of the child can claim if the child is either under the age of 16 or, if in approved education or training, under the age of 20 (eg if they are doing A-levels or on a Traineeship). Only one parent can claim for each child. You cannot receive benefits for more than two children unless the child was born before 6th April 2017.
The amount given does start to taper off if either you or your partner are earning over £50,000 and if either you or your partner earn over £60,000 you will lose all of your benefits. If one person is a stay-at-home parent and there is a child under the age of 12, it is worth them claiming the benefit and it being paid back through the partner’s tax as claiming gives the stay-at-home parent National Insurance credits towards a state pension.
To claim Child Benefit, click here
One of the most common misconceptions about DLA is that your child has to have a diagnosis for you to be able to receive it. The assessment for DLA does not focus on the diagnosis as much as the additional care and support needed by the child. This means that if you have a child, for example, with suspected autism or ADHD where it can take years to be able to obtain a diagnosis, you could be successful in claiming DLA due to your child needing more care and supervision than another child of the same age.
Disability Living Allowance is for children up to the age of 16, after which Personal Independence Payment (PIP) would need to be applied for (https://www.gov.uk/pip)
DLA is split into two components of care (with low, middle and high rate) and mobility (low and high rate).
How to apply: Click here to link to the DLA application form. If you need support to complete the assessment form, please Contact Us.
If your child obtains the middle or highest care rate you may be able to claim Carer’s Allowance (link to section under disability benefits)