Benefits

You may be entitled to certain benefits that may help with the extra costs you face.

If you have a disabled child, or you are on a low-income or not working, you may be entitled to certain benefits to help with the extra costs you face.

Browse this section to read about common benefits that families with disabled children might be able to claim.

In this section

Getting started

New to the benefits system? Read our introduction to eligibility and how benefits are paid, then get started with our benefits calculator.

You can also read about ongoing changes to the benefit system.

Introduction to benefits

On this page we explain who can usually claim benefits, how they're paid, and when you should claim.

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Benefits calculator

Use theTurn2Us benefits calculator to find out what benefits and other sources of financial help you might be entitled to.

A family of five sits closely together on a bus. The parents, both wearing sunglasses and caps, sit on either end and smile at the camera. The three children, dressed in colorful hats, look happy and hold electronic devices. Trees can be seen through the bus windows.

The benefit cap

The benefit cap limits the amount of benefits an out-of-work family can receive, though many families with a disabled child are exempt.

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Ongoing benefit changes

The welfare benefits system is often subject to reform. We keep this page up-to-date with the changes that may affect the financial…

Disability benefits

You might be able to claim disability benefits for a disabled child – or a young disabled adult can claim themselves – to help with the costs of their disability.

Disability Living Allowance and Personal Independence Payment apply in England, Northern Ireland and Wales; Child and Adult Disability Payment apply in Scotland, where there is also a Child Winter Heating Payment.

Disability Living Allowance

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Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is the main benefit for children under 16 with a condition or disability.

Family walking in the park with child in pushchair

Claiming DLA higher rate mobility

Specific rules allow some autistic children and those with severe learning difficulties to qualify for higher rate DLA mobility.

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DLA and other financial help

Read all about how getting DLA for your child impacts other financial help you might be entitled to.

A young child wearing a straw hat sits on a gray folding chair outdoors. The child's face and hands are messily covered in colorful paint. The background is blurred, showing a natural setting with greenery. The child appears focused on holding a small purple object.

Tips on completing the DLA form

On this page we offer some general top tips on completing the DLA1A Child form.

Payment of DLA for a child in hospital

An outline of the rules for claiming DLA and some other benefits, for children in hospital and residential settings.

A young girl in a pink shirt stands outdoors, looking down with a thoughtful expression. She holds the arm of an adult next to her. The scene is sunlit, with other people and objects blurred in the background.

Introduction to DLA videos

Watch our three short introduction videos to find out more about DLA – available in English, العربية, Polski, Soomaalida and Welsh.

Three children are seated on a bus, wearing seatbelts. The child on the left is in a yellow shirt, the middle child in a blue denim shirt is resting their chin on their hand, and the child on the right is in a red t-shirt with white text. All are smiling at the camera, enjoying their trip.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a benefit to help with the extra costs of disability for adults aged 16 to pension age.

Boy playing on the beach next to wheelchair

Completing the PIP questionnaire

Advice on how to complete the PIP2 form in a way that best describes your child’s needs.

A child sitting on the back row of a public bus smiling at the camera. He is wearing a grey hat and a yellow coat.

Child Disability Payment

Child Disability Payment is the main benefit for disabled children in Scotland, paid by Social Security Scotland.

Adult Disability Payment

Adult Disability Payment is a disability benefit for disabled adults aged 16 and over in Scotland.

Child Winter Heating Payment

Child Winter Heating Payment is an annual payment to help families with severely-disabled children pay their winter heating costs.

Carer benefits

You may also be eligible for support from the welfare system if you provide a certain amount of care to your child every week.

Carer’s Allowance apples in England, Northern Ireland and Wales. In Scotland, Carer Support Payment applies alongside other carers benefits, including the Young Carer Grant.

A woman with red hair embraces a young girl with brown hair from behind, standing in front of dense green foliage. Both are wearing black jackets. The woman smiles softly while the girl smiles with her eyes closed, embodying the deep support for carers that brings warmth to both hearts.

Carer’s Allowance

Carer's Allowance is the main benefit for carers who provide at least 35 hours of care per week.

Carer Support Payment and other carer support

Carer Support Payment is the main benefit for carers in Scotland.

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Young Carer Grant

The Young Carer Grant in Scotland is a lump sum payment made to 16, 17, 18 and 19 year old carers.

Benefits for low-income households

You might be able to claim benefits to help with day-to-day costs if you live in a low-income household.

Universal Credit

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Universal Credit

Universal Credit is a new benefit for people of working age. It is paid both to people who are out of work…

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Universal Credit for young people receiving education

There are particular rules that prevent most young people in education from being able to get Universal Credit.

Two parents either side of their teenage daughter, holding her hands. They are all smiling into the camera.

Caring couples and Universal Credit

Asking for a couple providing care to be exempt from work-related requirements in their Universal Credit award.

A child sitting outside at the seaside smiling.

Backdating of the disabled child addition and carer element of Universal Credit

What you can do when the Universal Credit service refuses to backdate payments to the correct date.

A family of four, including two adults and two children, leans out from the windows and doorway of a green tram or train-like vehicle. They are smiling and appear to be enjoying their time, with greenery visible in the background.

Help with Council Tax & rates

Families with disabled children might be eligible for help paying your Council Tax bill, or help with rates in Northern Ireland.

A mum and dad with their daughter smiling for a family photo.

Other benefits

There are a range of other benefits that families may be getting, depending on their circumstances.

Best Start Grant

Best Start provides grants to low-income families with young children. You can only claim if you are on certain low-income benefits.

Two adults sitting around and smiling at a young child on a yellow rug. The child sits in front of an insect museum artifact.

Best Start Foods

Best Start Foods is a prepaid card that you can use to buy healthy foods for children under three.

A candle next to a white flower in a sombre scene depicting.

Funeral Support Payment

A Funeral Support Payment is a one-off grant for Scottish families to help meet the costs of a funeral.

A young boy wearing a grey t-shirt and orange shorts is giving high fives to three other children with outstretched arms. They are outdoors in a park setting with trees in the background. The scene is bright and sunny.

Scottish Child Payment

Scottish Child Payment is a Social Security Scotland payment for low-income families.

Benefits at 16 and other changes in circumstances

These pages cover what happens to your family’s benefits when your child moves into adulthood and how other changes might affect the benefits you claim.

Benefits at 16

You may be able to continue claiming benefits for your child when they turn 16 or help them claim benefits.

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Changes in circumstances

Certain changes in circumstances can mean that the benefits you receive for your disabled child or for your family might change.

Bedroom tax

An outline of the bedroom tax rules, including how it applies to families with a disabled child.

Putting things right

Read about what you can do if you’re unhappy about a benefits decision or how it was handled.

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Revisions, appeals & complaints

What to do if you're unhappy with the outcome of a benefit decision or displeased with how it was handled.

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Challenging benefit decisions made by Social Security Scotland

What to do if you are unhappy with a decision that has been made by Social Security Scotland.

A-Z benefits

Below is all the benefits information you’ll find on the Contact website:

You might also be interested in…

Child and adult looking at books at RSPB event

Money & debt

Sources of financial support, help with extra costs and advice on dealing with debt.

In this section

Getting started

Introduction to benefits

Benefits calculator

The benefit cap

Ongoing benefit changes

Disability benefits

Disability Living Allowance

Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

Claiming DLA higher rate mobility

DLA and other financial help

Tips on completing the DLA form

Payment of DLA for a child in hospital

Introduction to DLA videos

Personal Independence Payment

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

Completing the PIP questionnaire

Disability benefits in Scotland

Child Disability Payment

Adult Disability Payment

Child Winter Heating Payment

Carer benefits

Carer’s Allowance

Carer Support Payment and other carer support

Young Carer Grant

Benefits for low-income households

Universal Credit

Universal Credit

Universal Credit for young people receiving education

Caring couples and Universal Credit

Backdating of the disabled child addition and carer element of Universal Credit

Other support

Help with Council Tax & rates

Other benefits

Low-income support in Scotland only

Best Start Grant

Best Start Foods

Funeral Support Payment

Scottish Child Payment

Benefits at 16 and other changes in circumstances

Benefits at 16

Changes in circumstances

Bedroom tax

Putting things right

Revisions, appeals & complaints

Challenging benefit decisions made by Social Security Scotland

A-Z benefits

You might also be interested in…

Money & debt