DLA application support for children
Explain the extra care, supervision and mobility support your child needs in everyday life.
You may know your child needs more help than other children of the same age, but find it difficult to put that into words on the DLA form.
School of Diversity helps you prepare clear, honest and detailed information that reflects your child’s actual needs, with relevant supporting evidence.
Turn everyday support into clear information
We help you understand the questions and describe the support your child needs, rather than relying only on their diagnosis.
Understand the questions
Identify what each relevant question asks and where care, supervision, night-time help and mobility information belong.
Describe the extra help
Explain prompting, assistance, risks and supervision, including frequency, duration and how needs vary.
Connect the evidence
Organise relevant records and statements so they support the needs described and help avoid vague or incomplete answers.
This support may suit you if: you are applying for the first time, have started but feel stuck, are unsure which evidence to use, or need help describing care, safety, sleep or mobility needs.
We support families with autism, ADHD, sensory needs, developmental delay, anxiety, social, emotional and mental health needs and other SEND profiles.
What is DLA for children?
Disability Living Allowance helps with the additional costs of caring for an eligible child under 16. A child may qualify for the care component, mobility component or both, depending on the applicable criteria.
A diagnosis does not automatically establish entitlement. Care needs are considered against those of a child of the same age without a disability. Other eligibility rules also apply.
Care component
Considers qualifying attention or supervision needs during the day or night. Relevant help may involve personal care, communication, medication, regulation, sensory needs or safety.
Explain what an adult needs to do, how often and for how long.
Mobility component
Considers qualifying difficulties getting around. It is not limited to physical walking difficulties: guidance or supervision outdoors may be relevant under the appropriate criteria.
The two mobility rates have different rules and minimum ages. Difficulty outdoors does not automatically establish eligibility.
Describe what happens during the day, at night and outdoors
Daytime care and prompting
Consider washing, dressing, toileting, eating, understanding instructions, routines and transitions. Include repeated prompting and assistance that has become part of daily life.
Night-time intervention
Describe relevant waking, toileting, medical, distress or safety needs. Record the timing, frequency, duration and help provided rather than simply stating that sleep is difficult.
Supervision and getting around
Explain danger awareness, running off, road safety, overwhelm in unfamiliar places and any walking difficulties. Use specific examples of the adult support required.
A practical structure for your answers
What happens → what help is needed → how often → how long → what could happen without that help.
Describe a representative pattern, including variation. Do not exaggerate or describe only the hardest days. Explain how the support differs from what a child of the same age would usually need.
What information can we help you organise?
Relevant documents should explain the needs described in your claim. More pages are not automatically more useful.
Parent records
- Parent statement.
- Care diary.
- Sleep log.
- Relevant behaviour or safety records.
School information
- School or SENCO evidence.
- Support plans.
- EHCP or SEN Support documents.
- Examples of prompting and supervision.
Professional advice
- Diagnostic reports.
- Therapy reports.
- Professional letters.
- Relevant clinical information.
Keep the context clear. Link each document to the care or mobility need it supports. Explain differences between school and home accurately, and retain copies of your completed form and attachments.
How our application support works
- Tell us where you are. Share whether you are starting or have already completed part of the form, and any return date.
- Discuss everyday needs. We help identify the care, prompting, supervision, night-time help and mobility support to describe.
- Agree the work and fee. We confirm the documents, outputs, consultations, revisions and timescale included.
- Prepare the agreed information. We help structure clear answers and relevant supporting evidence.
- Check the final account. Ensure the information is accurate, reflects your child’s needs and follows the current claim instructions.
Scope is agreed before work begins. Form completion, submission on your behalf, additional revisions and continuing correspondence are included only where expressly agreed. We cannot guarantee an award or a particular rate.
Already received a refusal or an award you disagree with?
The next step may be a challenge to the existing decision. Share the decision letter and date promptly so the relevant route and deadline can be checked.
Frequently asked questions
Can you help if I have already started the form?
Yes. Tell us what is completed, what you find difficult and the return date. We can agree the help required.
Does my child need an autism or ADHD diagnosis?
A particular diagnosis is not a prerequisite. The claim should establish qualifying care or mobility needs and the other eligibility conditions. Reports can help explain those needs.
My child can physically do a task. Can prompting still matter?
Potentially. Explain the actual support required to start, complete or safely manage the activity, including repetition and supervision. The relevant benefit criteria still need to be met.
Should I include every report?
Choose relevant evidence and explain what it supports. A diagnosis alone may not describe the practical care and supervision required.
What if needs look different at school and home?
Describe both settings accurately. Include the support provided and what happens before or after school, with records where available.
Is this the same process throughout the UK?
This page mainly concerns DWP DLA applications for children in England and Wales. Scotland uses Child Disability Payment. Northern Ireland has separate DLA administration. Tell us where you live when enquiring.
Support beyond the DLA application
If your child also needs help at school, explore our SEND guidance and parent resources.
Education and school support
EHCP guide for parents SEN Support in schools explainedUnderstanding your child’s needs
Autism support for parents ADHD support for parentsOfficial guidance: DLA eligibility and how to claim. Check current instructions and any case-specific deadlines.
Get help putting your child’s needs into words
Tell us what stage you have reached and where you need support. We can discuss the preparation that fits your situation.