DLA renewal for a child: what happens when the award ends

Updated 6 October 2026 · Checked against GOV.UK, legislation.gov.uk and DWP guidance

Many DLA awards for children are made for a fixed period, because a child's needs often change as they grow. When the award is due to end, you need to claim again if you want DLA to carry on. The law lets you make that further claim in the 6 months before the award ends. Here is what the official sources say, what they do not say and how to prepare.

What official sources do and do not say

We want to be straight with you. GOV.UK has no page that describes the DLA renewal process for children. It does not name a renewal form or say how early one is sent. We found nothing on it on Northern Ireland's nidirect either. So this guide does not guess at form names or timings.

Everything below comes from the law, GOV.UK's DLA guide, the DLA claim form booklet and the guide DWP gives its own decision makers. The sources are listed at the end.

Why children often get fixed-period awards

The law allows each part of DLA to be awarded for a fixed period or for an indefinite period. If your child gets both the care part and the mobility part, the two cannot be given different fixed periods.

DWP's Decision Makers' Guide says an indefinite award suits cases where no change or improvement is likely. In other cases a fixed period is appropriate. The guide mentions children by name: an award may be limited because increasing age and maturity may change a child's care or mobility needs. The shortest award is six months.

So a fixed period is not, in itself, a judgement on your child. It reflects the fact that the help a child needs is always compared with what is normal for their age. What is normal changes year by year.

When you can renew

The Social Security (Claims and Payments) Regulations allow a further claim for DLA during the 6 months before an existing award ends. DWP can treat that claim as if it was made on the first day after the old award ends. The law calls this the renewal date. DWP can then award DLA from that date if your child meets the conditions on it.

In practice this gives room for a renewal to be decided before the old award runs out, which can avoid a gap in payments. Do not leave it late. If a letter or pack arrives, check any deadline it gives and send your reply in good time.

Will DWP tell you?

The law refers to DWP notifying a person that, because a fixed-term award is due to come to an end, they need to claim DLA again if they want it to continue. GOV.UK does not say how far ahead this happens for children.

If your child's award ends within the next 6 months and you have heard nothing, phone the DLA helpline on 0800 121 4600. If you are not sure whether the award has an end date at all, check your decision letter or ask the helpline.

Mobility claim packs before 3 and 5

The mobility part has age rules: the higher rate can be paid from age 3 and the lower rate from age 5. If you claim DLA for a younger child, GOV.UK says you should be sent a claim pack 6 months before they turn 3 and 6 months before they turn 5. You can then apply for the mobility part if you think they are eligible. If no pack arrives and you think your child may qualify, contact the Disability Service Centre on 0800 121 4600.

The booklet adds that if a child is not already getting the care part, a new claim is needed at 5 for the lower mobility rate. Our guide to the DLA mobility component for children explains both rates.

Awards that end close to 16

At 16, young people move from DLA to Personal Independence Payment (PIP). In England and Wales, if a fixed-period award would end between the day before your child's 16th birthday and the day before they turn 16 and a half, the law extends it. The extended award normally ends on the day before they turn 17.

GOV.UK says your child should get a letter inviting them to apply for PIP shortly after their 16th birthday. Their DLA stops unless they apply by the date in that letter. Our guide to DLA at 16 and the move to PIP covers this step.

Between renewals: report changes

You do not have to wait for a renewal when things change. GOV.UK says you must contact the DLA helpline if the level of help your child needs changes or their condition changes. The same applies if they go into hospital or a care home.

The booklet suggests keeping a copy or photos of your claim form, so that if the help your child needs changes or DWP looks at the award again, you can remember what you told them. Keep a note of the date you reported a change and what you said, too.

How to prepare a renewal like a strong new claim

In law, a renewal is a further claim, decided on your child's needs at the renewal date. The same legal tests apply as for a first claim, so it makes sense to prepare just as carefully:

1. Compare with a child of the same age now. DLA looks at the help your child needs compared with a child of the same age without a disability. Help that is normal for a toddler may be far beyond what is normal at 9, so describe today's needs against today's age.
2. Describe day and night separately. On the claim form, daytime is any time before the parents or carer go to bed and night is when everyone in the house is in bed. Give how often help is needed, how many minutes it takes each time and, for nights, how many nights a week.
3. Do not rely on last time. Write everything out again, including needs that have not changed. Keep a copy of what you send this time.
4. Keep a diary for a few days. Our free day and night care diary records help in the way the form asks for it.
5. Gather new evidence. Recent letters from the paediatrician or therapists, an updated EHC plan and a fresh statement from school or nursery all help. Send copies, never originals. Our free evidence tracker and school statement template can make this easier.

Our guide on how to fill in the DLA form for a child explains what each part of the claim form asks, which is a useful checklist for any renewal.

If the renewal decision seems wrong

The renewal is decided on your child's needs at the renewal date, so the result may differ from the last award. If you disagree, you can ask for a mandatory reconsideration. You usually need to ask within one month of the date on the decision letter. Our free mandatory reconsideration letter generator and our guide to DLA mandatory reconsideration can help you through it.

Frequently asked questions