What counts is how much extra looking after your child needs, or how hard they find getting around.
Quick facts
- Weekly
- £30.30 to £194.60
- Care part
- £30.30, £76.70 or £114.60 a week
- Mobility part
- £30.30 or £80.00 a week
- Age
- Under 16
- How long
- Needed for 3 months, expected to last 6
- At 16
- Moves to PIP
How much you get
DLA has a care part and a mobility part. Your child can get one or both:
- Care: £30.30, £76.70 or £114.60 a week
- Mobility: £30.30 or £80.00 a week
Together that is between £30.30 and £194.60 a week. It is usually paid every four weeks.
Who can get it — the full rules
Your child must be under 16, and their disability or health condition must have lasted at least three months and be expected to last at least six more. That wait does not apply if a doctor has said they may have 12 months or less to live.
There are residence rules. A child under six months must have lived in Northern Ireland for at least 13 weeks.
How to claim
Ask for a claim form by email, by phone, or from your local Jobs and Benefits office. The date you ask is your date of claim, as long as you send the form back within six weeks.
At 16: the move to PIP
Your child will need to apply for Personal Independence Payment when they turn 16. They will get a letter inviting them to apply, and DLA stops unless they apply by the date in the letter.
Common questions
How much is DLA for a child in Northern Ireland?
Between £30.30 and £194.60 a week, depending on the help your child needs.
What happens to DLA at 16?
Your child needs to apply for PIP when they turn 16, or DLA stops.
How do I claim DLA for my child?
Ask for a claim form by email, phone or at your Jobs and Benefits office, and return it within six weeks.
Who can get DLA for a child?
A child under 16 who has difficulty walking, or needs more looking after than a child of the same age who does not have a disability.