You can get between £26.90 and £172.75 a week in Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to help look after a child who has a disability or health condition. 

DLA isn't means tested, so how much you earn, or any savings you have, won’t impact how much you can get. 

DLA isn’t just for children who are physically disabled. It can be given for a wide range of medical conditions including behavioural and mental health conditions as well as learning disabilities and developmental delay. You might be able to claim even if you wouldn’t describe your child as ‘disabled’.

You can get DLA if at least one of the following applies to your child:

They need a lot more care, attention or supervision than a child of the same age who isn't disabled

They have difficulty walking or getting around outdoors in unfamiliar places, compared to a child of the same age who isn't disabled

Your child must have been disabled or had the condition for at least three months, and you must expect it to last for six more. You don’t need a formal diagnosis from a doctor to apply, but this can usually help.

Your child needs to be under 16 for you to claim DLA.

It can be difficult to get DLA for a baby or an infant because all children of that age need a lot of care. For example, most babies would be expected to wake during the night.

But if you have to get up to give them a treatment such as an inhaler two or three times a night, then this means your child needs more care and attention than a baby who doesn’t need an inhaler.

Any other benefits you might be getting won’t be affected. In fact, getting DLA could mean that:

You can get other benefits, or you can get a higher rate of the benefits that you currently get.

Please visit northhertscab.org.uk or stevenagecab.org.uk if you need further help.

The Hertfordshire Citizens Advice Helpline can be contacted on 0800 144 88 48.

Opening hours are 10am to 9pm Monday to Wednesday, 10am to 8pm Thursday and Friday, and 10am to 4pm on Saturday.