Read more about claiming DLA for babies Three months is usually the earliest you can get the DLA care component (unless your child has a terminal condition). All very young children need a lot of care and attention, so the younger your child, the harder it can be to show they need more help than other babies of the same age. But you can still get DLA if you show that your baby needs a different type of care than other babies, or if that care has to be provided more frequently, or over a longer period. For example, all babies need help feeding but if your baby takes longer to feed, has feeding problems or needs feeding by a tube or drip then they are likely to qualify for the care component. Other common situations where a baby is likely to qualify include: Babies with severe visual or hearing impairments. Those who have seizures. Those with renal failure. Babies with severe multiple disabilities. Babies who are born very prematurely. Babies who need suctioning, oxygen treatment, or who have had a surgical procedure, such as a tracheotomy or colostomy, are also likely to qualify. This list is not exhaustive, and other babies may qualify. Because of the difficulties getting DLA for babies, get specialist help to fill in the form.
Read more about claiming DLA for babies Three months is usually the earliest you can get the DLA care component (unless your child has a terminal condition). All very young children need a lot of care and attention, so the younger your child, the harder it can be to show they need more help than other babies of the same age. But you can still get DLA if you show that your baby needs a different type of care than other babies, or if that care has to be provided more frequently, or over a longer period. For example, all babies need help feeding but if your baby takes longer to feed, has feeding problems or needs feeding by a tube or drip then they are likely to qualify for the care component. Other common situations where a baby is likely to qualify include: Babies with severe visual or hearing impairments. Those who have seizures. Those with renal failure. Babies with severe multiple disabilities. Babies who are born very prematurely. Babies who need suctioning, oxygen treatment, or who have had a surgical procedure, such as a tracheotomy or colostomy, are also likely to qualify. This list is not exhaustive, and other babies may qualify. Because of the difficulties getting DLA for babies, get specialist help to fill in the form.
Words used in the DLA rules To assess what rate of DLA should be paid, some of the words in the rules have a specific meaning: Bodily functions Includes anything to do with how the body works, like breathing, eating, drinking, hearing, seeing, walking, sitting, dressing, undressing, washing, bathing, toileting and sleeping. If the help can be done in another room, away from the child, it is unlikely to count unless it is closely connected to something personal, for example changing bedding after a child has wet the bed. Supervision Someone present to prevent any accidents or harm to your child or others. Substantial danger There must be a realistic possibility that without supervision your child could seriously risk harming themselves or others. This situation may arise infrequently or be a one-off. Night Starts from when the whole household goes to bed and ends when everyone gets up. Normally assumed to start around 11pm and end around 7am.
Words used in the DLA rules To assess what rate of DLA should be paid, some of the words in the rules have a specific meaning: Bodily functions Includes anything to do with how the body works, like breathing, eating, drinking, hearing, seeing, walking, sitting, dressing, undressing, washing, bathing, toileting and sleeping. If the help can be done in another room, away from the child, it is unlikely to count unless it is closely connected to something personal, for example changing bedding after a child has wet the bed. Supervision Someone present to prevent any accidents or harm to your child or others. Substantial danger There must be a realistic possibility that without supervision your child could seriously risk harming themselves or others. This situation may arise infrequently or be a one-off. Night Starts from when the whole household goes to bed and ends when everyone gets up. Normally assumed to start around 11pm and end around 7am.
Read more about the DLA care component The lowest rate care component This is paid if your child needs help with personal care for a ‘significant portion of the day’. This is usually taken to mean for at least an hour on most days – for example, help with washing and getting dressed in the morning. This help may be given all at once or be spread out through the day. Sometimes less than an hour’s care will be sufficient to meet this test – for example if the help is spread over a number of short periods or is particularly intensive in nature. The middle rate care component This is paid if your child has either ‘day-time needs’ or ‘night-time needs’. Day-time needs means they need either: ‘Frequent’ help with personal care, in connection with their bodily functions. This means several times throughout the day, or Continual supervision throughout the day to avoid substantial danger to themselves or others. Continual supervision means frequent or regular supervision, rather than non-stop supervision. Night-time needs means that during the night your child requires either: ‘Prolonged’ help with their personal care. This means for at least 20 minutes, or ‘Repeated’ help with personal care during the night. This means at least twice, or To avoid danger to themselves, or others, another person needs to be awake and watching over them for either a ‘prolonged’ period or at ‘frequent intervals’ (this means more than twice). The highest rate care component Paid if your child has day-time and night-time care needs, or if they qualify under the ‘special rules’ (see page 13). To qualify for the DLA care component, your child’s care needs must ultimately stem from a disability. And they must need substantially more help than a child of the same age without a disability.
Read more about the DLA care component The lowest rate care component This is paid if your child needs help with personal care for a ‘significant portion of the day’. This is usually taken to mean for at least an hour on most days – for example, help with washing and getting dressed in the morning. This help may be given all at once or be spread out through the day. Sometimes less than an hour’s care will be sufficient to meet this test – for example if the help is spread over a number of short periods or is particularly intensive in nature. The middle rate care component This is paid if your child has either ‘day-time needs’ or ‘night-time needs’. Day-time needs means they need either: ‘Frequent’ help with personal care, in connection with their bodily functions. This means several times throughout the day, or Continual supervision throughout the day to avoid substantial danger to themselves or others. Continual supervision means frequent or regular supervision, rather than non-stop supervision. Night-time needs means that during the night your child requires either: ‘Prolonged’ help with their personal care. This means for at least 20 minutes, or ‘Repeated’ help with personal care during the night. This means at least twice, or To avoid danger to themselves, or others, another person needs to be awake and watching over them for either a ‘prolonged’ period or at ‘frequent intervals’ (this means more than twice). The highest rate care component Paid if your child has day-time and night-time care needs, or if they qualify under the ‘special rules’ (see page 13). To qualify for the DLA care component, your child’s care needs must ultimately stem from a disability. And they must need substantially more help than a child of the same age without a disability.
Read more Claiming DLA higher rate mobilityEven if your child has no physical problems with walking, they might still qualify if their behaviour is very difficult to deal with.Claiming DLA higher rate mobility
Claiming DLA higher rate mobilityEven if your child has no physical problems with walking, they might still qualify if their behaviour is very difficult to deal with.Claiming DLA higher rate mobility
Read more DLA and other financial helpRead more about the extra help you might be entitled to if you claim DLA for your child.DLA and other financial help
DLA and other financial helpRead more about the extra help you might be entitled to if you claim DLA for your child.DLA and other financial help
Read more Tips on completing the DLA formWe’ve put together some general top tips on completing the DLA1A Child form, along with brief explanations of some of the more difficult parts of the form.Tips on completing the DLA form
Tips on completing the DLA formWe’ve put together some general top tips on completing the DLA1A Child form, along with brief explanations of some of the more difficult parts of the form.Tips on completing the DLA form
Read more Payment of DLA for a child in hospitalRead more information about the rules around claiming DLA for a child who has a stay in hospital.Payment of DLA for a child in hospital
Payment of DLA for a child in hospitalRead more information about the rules around claiming DLA for a child who has a stay in hospital.Payment of DLA for a child in hospital
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