Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children

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Changes you need to report

You must contact the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) helpline if:

  • your child’s personal details change, for example their name, address or doctor
  • the level of help they need or their condition changes
  • a medical professional has said they’re nearing the end of life (for example, due to a life-limiting illness)
  • they go into hospital or a care home
  • they plan to go abroad for more than 4 weeks
  • they’re imprisoned or held in detention
  • their immigration status has changed, if they’re not a British citizen
  • they go into a residential school

You could be taken to court or have to pay a penalty if you give wrong information or do not report a change in your child’s circumstances.

A change can affect how much DLA your child gets. Their DLA will not usually be affected if they go:

  • into a local authority care home for less than 28 days
  • into a hospital
  • abroad for less than 13 weeks
  • abroad for less than 26 weeks to get medical treatment for a condition which began before they left

If your child is in a care home

If your child goes into a care home for more than 28 days, you’ll need to report if:

  • there’s a change to the way your child’s care home fees are funded (for example, you start or stop getting funding from the NHS or local council)
  • your child was staying in the care home temporarily and they become a permanent resident
  • your child moves to another care home

If your child moves to Scotland

If your child gets DLA and they move to Scotland, you must report this by calling the DLA helpline.

Their DLA will continue for up to 13 weeks after they move. Apply for Child Disability Payment as soon as possible after moving or your payments could be affected.

Call the DLA helpline

Telephone: 0800 121 4600
Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 121 4600
British Sign Language (BSL) video relay service if you’re on a computer - find out how to use the service on mobile or tablet Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Find out about call charges

View a printable version of the whole guide

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