Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children

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
their condition has worsened and they’re not expected to live more than 12 months
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

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

They’ll arrange for your child to get Child Disability Payment instead. You do not need to make a new application for Child Disability Payment.

Your DLA will stop 13 weeks after your child moves – report their move as soon as possible or your payments could be affected.

Telephone: 0800 121 4600
Textphone: 0800 121 4523
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