Completing the DLA Form for Your Child: Tips and Common Pitfalls
Applying for Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for your child can feel like a big task. The disability living allowance claim form is long, some of the questions are difficult to interpret, and the way you describe your child’s needs can influence how the claim is assessed. The encouraging news is that you do not have to work through it alone. Help is available from the helpline, from charities, and from clear guidance that explains what each section is looking for.
This guide covers the basics of the DLA claim form for children: what it is, how to get it, how to approach it, and the common pitfalls that trip parents up. It also points you towards the support you can use if you feel stuck at any stage.
What Is the Disability Living Allowance Claim Form?
The disability living allowance claim form for children is known as the DLA1 Child (ALT) form. Its purpose is straightforward: you use it to claim Disability Living Allowance for a child under 16. The standard GOV.UK form is for children in England and Wales. Similar arrangements apply in Northern Ireland, where the DLA child claim form and guidance notes are published separately, and charity advice on the form covers England, Northern Ireland and Wales. In Scotland, Disability Living Allowance for children has been replaced by Child Disability Payment.
The form is a PDF document of 983 KB and runs to 40 pages, so you will need a PDF reader to open it. Forty pages sounds like a lot, but many parents find that the form becomes easier once they understand what each section is asking. It also helps to remember that the form is designed to capture the detail of your child’s everyday needs, not to test your writing skills.
How to Get the Claim Form
There are two straightforward ways to get the form:
- Download it from the UK government’s website.
- Phone the Disability Living Allowance helpline on 0800 121 4600 and ask for a form to be sent to you.
Whichever option you choose, the form itself asks you to take a few minutes to read the information booklet that comes with it before you fill it in. This booklet explains how the claim works and what kind of information you should include. Reading it first can save you from making mistakes later.
Tips for Completing the DLA Claim Form for Your Child
The quality of the information you put into the form matters. These tips are designed to help you describe your child’s needs clearly and accurately.
Read the Information Booklet Before You Begin
The instructions on the claim form are clear: before you fill in the form, take a few minutes to read the information booklet that comes with it. The booklet helps you understand what each question is looking for and gives you a sense of how the claim is assessed. Skipping this step is one of the most common mistakes that parents make, and it can lead to sections being completed with the wrong kind of information.
Describe Your Child’s Needs in Practical, Everyday Terms
The form asks you to explain the help your child needs because of their disability or health condition. The most useful answers are practical ones. Think about what a typical day looks like for your child: what do they need help with in the morning, during the day, and at night? How much supervision do they need to stay safe? Write these things down in clear, simple language that describes the reality of your family’s life.
Give Specific Examples Rather Than Relying on a Diagnosis
A diagnosis tells the decision maker that your child has a condition, but it does not explain what that condition means day to day. The assessor needs to understand the impact on your child’s life. For example, rather than writing that your child has behavioural difficulties, describe what happens, when it happens, and what you have to do in response. Contact’s tips on completing the DLA form explain the more difficult parts of the form and the kind of information to include, which is useful if you are unsure how much detail to provide.
Take Your Time and Use Real Examples From Home
A form of 40 pages is not something you can complete properly in five minutes. Set aside enough time, and consider keeping a short note of the support your child needs over a week or two before you start. Real examples from home are often the most convincing information on any claim form. You do not need perfect grammar or medical language; you need honest, specific descriptions of your child’s needs.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Even careful parents can fall into the same traps. Knowing what they are in advance means you can avoid them.
Starting Before You Have Read the Booklet
The form tells you to read the information booklet first, and for good reason. The booklet sets out what the form is for and the kind of information the decision maker needs. If you start filling in the form before reading it, you may find yourself writing answers that do not match what the question is really asking.
Using the Wrong Form
Disability Living Allowance for adults is being replaced by other benefits, so it is essential to use the correct form for a child. The DLA1 Child (ALT) form is the right one for claims for children under 16. Downloading the form from the GOV.UK page for the children’s claim form, or asking the helpline for the children’s version, will help you avoid this mistake.
Forgetting to Print the Completed Form
The guidance for the DLA child claim form says that you should download the form, complete it and print it out. It is easy to spend a long time filling in the PDF and then forget that it needs to be printed before it can be sent. Check that every page has printed correctly, and keep a copy for your own records.
Trying to Complete It Without Support
You do not have to manage the form alone. The Disability Living Allowance helpline can help you get a form and arrange alternative formats, and several charities have produced detailed guidance. Mencap offers a step-by-step digital guide with an Easy Read version, while Cerebra has a guide that takes you through all the questions on the form. Asking for help is not a sign of failure; it is a sensible way to make sure your child’s needs are described as fully as possible.
Where to Find Help With the Form
If you are struggling with a particular question, or if you need the form in a format that works for you, there are several places to turn.
Contacting the Disability Living Allowance Helpline
The Disability Living Allowance helpline can be reached on 0800 121 4600. You can use this number to request a claim form, and you can also use it to ask about other ways to communicate with the service. If you need braille, British Sign Language, a hearing loop, translations, large print, Easy Read, audio, or something else, the helpline will be able to help. If you use Relay UK, dial 18001 followed by the telephone number. If you live in Wales and want the form in Welsh, call 0800 328 1744.
Completing the disability living allowance claim form takes time, patience and careful thought, but it is a task you can prepare for. Read the information booklet, describe your child’s needs in real terms, and make use of the help that is available. A well-prepared form gives your child the strongest possible start to their claim, and the effort you put in now can make a real difference to your family.
School of Diversity
School of Diversity advises parents on how to complete and answer the DLA Application for their child and offer a free 20 minute consultation where you can ask questions, seek advice or ask for support with the application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some of the questions parents most often ask about the disability living allowance claim form.
How do I get a disability living allowance claim form for my child?
You can download the claim form from the GOV.UK website, or you can phone the Disability Living Allowance helpline on 0800 121 4600 and ask for a form to be sent to you. The form is a PDF of 983 KB, so you will need a PDF reader to open it. Before you start, check that you have the children’s version rather than the adult form.
Can I get the DLA claim form in another format?
Yes. You can request braille, British Sign Language, a hearing loop, translations, large print, Easy Read, audio, or another format by calling 0800 121 4600. If you use Relay UK, dial 18001 followed by the telephone number. If you live in Wales and want the form in Welsh, call 0800 328 1744.
Is DLA still paid for children under 16?
The disability living allowance claim form is still used to claim DLA for a child under 16. DLA for adults is being replaced by other benefits, which is why it is important to use the correct form. The DLA1 Child (ALT) form is specifically for children, and the guidance confirms that it covers claims for children in England and Wales.
Where can I find help completing the form?
Mencap offers a step-by-step digital guide with an Easy Read version, and School of Diversity has a guide that takes you through all the questions on the form. Contact also provides tips on the more difficult parts of the form and the kind of information to include. The Disability Living Allowance helpline on 0800 121 4600 can help you get a form or arrange an alternative format.
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Final Thoughts
Completing the DLA form for your child can feel daunting, particularly when you are trying to describe needs that have become part of everyday family life. The key is to focus on the extra care, supervision, prompting, support and mobility needs your child has compared with another child of the same age.
Try not to minimise the help your child needs simply because you have become used to providing it. Give clear, practical examples of what happens during the day and night, how often support is needed, how long tasks take and what could happen without that help. Where possible, support what you say with evidence from professionals, school, therapists or other people involved in your child’s care.
Before submitting the form, read through every answer and ask yourself whether someone who has never met your child would genuinely understand the level of support they need. A well-prepared DLA application should build a clear picture of your child’s day-to-day functioning, rather than relying on a diagnosis alone.
If you are unsure about how to explain your child’s needs, School of Diversity can help you review the information, identify gaps in the evidence and present your child’s needs as clearly and accurately as possible.