DLA for Children: Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Applying for Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for a child can feel daunting, especially when you’re already juggling the demands of caring for a child with additional needs. Many families in England and Wales find their first application is refused, not because their child isn’t eligible, but because the form doesn’t clearly show how much extra care, supervision, or help with getting around their child needs compared to other children of the same age. The key to a successful claim is providing detailed, real-life evidence that paints a clear picture of your child’s daily life.

Let’s explore the most common pitfalls and how you can avoid them, so your application stands the best chance of success.

1. Focusing on Diagnosis Instead of Care and Supervision

It’s natural to want to explain your child’s diagnosis in detail, but DLA decisions are based on the extra care and supervision your child needs, not just their medical condition. The decision maker wants to know how your child’s needs differ from a typical child of the same age.

Instead of general statements, describe specific tasks your child needs help with, how often this help is needed, how long it takes, and what could happen if they weren’t supervised. For example, rather than saying “my child has autism,” explain that “my child needs help dressing every morning, which takes 20 minutes longer than for other children, because they become distressed by certain fabrics and need constant reassurance.”

A practical way to do this is to keep a daily diary for two to four weeks, noting every time your child needs extra help or supervision. Include a night-time log if your child wakes, needs the toilet, or requires comfort. Incident logs are also useful—record who was involved, what happened, when, how long it lasted, and what the risks or outcomes were.

2. Under-Reporting Night-Time Needs

Night-time care is often overlooked, but it’s a vital part of many children’s DLA claims. If your child wakes frequently, needs help with toileting, experiences seizures, pain, distress, or is at risk of wandering, this should be clearly documented.

Keep a simple night log, noting the time of each incident, the reason your child woke, what help you gave, how long it took, and how it affected your child (and you) the next day. If your child’s clinician is aware of these needs, ask them to mention night-time supervision in their letters.

3. Not Applying the Correct Mobility Age Rules

DLA mobility rules are age-specific. Children can only qualify for the lower rate mobility component from age five if they can walk but need help or supervision outdoors. The higher rate mobility component is available from age three if your child cannot walk, can only walk a short distance without severe discomfort, would become very ill if walking, or is blind or severely sight impaired.

When describing mobility needs, be specific. State how far your child can walk, how long it takes, what happens if they go further, and what risks are involved (such as bolting, no awareness of traffic, or exhaustion). Use dates, distances, and recovery times to show the pattern.

4. Lack of Supporting Evidence

Many applications are refused because they don’t include evidence from schools or health professionals that links your child’s needs to the extra care and supervision required. Decision makers need to see that your child’s needs are recognised by others, not just by you.

Ask your child’s school SENCO or teacher for a brief letter describing the support your child receives, how often incidents occur, and what supervision is needed during transitions or playtimes. Clinical letters from CAMHS, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, or paediatricians should focus on your child’s functional needs, how often help is needed, and the risks if support isn’t provided.

5. Relying on One-Off Examples

A single incident, no matter how serious, won’t usually be enough to show ongoing need. DLA is about patterns and frequency.

Describe how often your child needs help each week or month, how long support is needed, and what a typical day or night looks like. This helps the decision maker understand the regularity and impact of your child’s needs.

6. Missing Deadlines and Not Keeping Copies

It’s easy to lose track of deadlines or misplace important documents when you’re busy. However, late or incomplete submissions can delay decisions or even result in your claim being refused.

Mark all deadlines in your calendar, submit copies of everything, and keep a simple index of the evidence you’ve sent. This will make it much easier if you need to appeal or update your claim in the future.

7. Not Updating When Circumstances Change

Children’s needs can change quickly. If your child’s care or supervision needs increase or decrease, you must update DLA. Failing to do so can lead to the wrong award or even an overpayment.

Keep periodic diaries and ask for new letters from school or health professionals if support hours or risks change. This ensures your claim always reflects your child’s current needs.

8. Overlooking the Transition at Age 16

When your child turns 16, they’ll usually be invited to claim Personal Independence Payment (PIP) instead of DLA. The evidence you’ve gathered for DLA will be invaluable for this transition.

Keep your diaries, school, and clinical letters up to date as your child approaches 16, so you’re ready for the PIP process.

Quick Pre-Submission Checklist

Before you submit your application, ask yourself:

• Have I compared my child’s needs to a typical child of the same age?

• Do my day and night diaries show frequency, duration, and risks?

• Have I kept an incident log with dates and outcomes?

• Are school/EHCP and clinician letters included and focused on function?

• Does my mobility evidence reflect the correct age thresholds and outdoor supervision?

• Have I saved copies, diarised deadlines, and reported any changes promptly?

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Disclaimer: This blog post provides general information for educational purposes only. It is not legal advice. Outcomes can vary based on your personal circumstances.