DLA or Child Disability Payment? Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland

Updated 8 October 2026 · Checked against GOV.UK, mygov.scot, nidirect and legislation.gov.uk

Where your child lives decides which benefit you claim. In England and Wales it is Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children from the DWP. In Northern Ireland it is DLA from the Department for Communities. In Scotland, new claims are for Child Disability Payment from Social Security Scotland.

The four nations side by side

A child cannot get DLA and Child Disability Payment at the same time. The rates are the same everywhere, so the difference is about who you deal with, how you apply and what happens as your child gets older.

England and Wales: DLA from the DWP

To claim DLA your child must be under 16 and living in England or Wales when you claim, unless they can claim from abroad. You claim as the parent or as someone looking after them as a parent, such as a step-parent, grandparent, foster parent or older brother or sister.

You can print the claim form and fill it in, or call the DLA helpline on 0800 121 4600 for a printed form. GOV.UK says you cannot complete the form on a mobile phone or tablet. The claim starts on the date the form arrives, or the date you called if you send the pack back within 6 weeks. DLA cannot be backdated. You should receive a letter within 3 weeks confirming your application.

The DWP pays DLA for the impact of a condition on your child, not for the diagnosis itself. Our guide to filling in the DLA form walks through it question by question.

Scotland: Child Disability Payment

If your child lives in Scotland, GOV.UK says you need to apply for Child Disability Payment instead of DLA. Any adult with parental responsibilities and rights, or a guardian, can apply for a child under 16 who lives in Scotland.

• No diagnosis needed. mygov.scot says you can apply even if your child does not have a diagnosis.
• How to apply. Online, or by phone and paper. There is no printable version to download: you call Social Security Scotland first on 0800 182 2222 (8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday).
• Two parts. The application is in 2 parts, and you should complete part 2 within 6 weeks of part 1. Contact Social Security Scotland if you need more time.
• Ages. The care component is for children aged 3 months or older (from birth for a child with a terminal illness). Mobility can start from age 3, with the lower rate from age 5.
• Up to 18. Social Security Scotland pays Child Disability Payment until the young person is 18. They can choose to apply for Adult Disability Payment from 13 weeks before they turn 16.
• Extra help. Children on the highest care rate also get Child Winter Heating Payment.

If you send a DLA claim for a child in Scotland by mistake, mygov.scot says the DWP sends it on to Social Security Scotland. You do not need a separate application, and payments can start from the date you applied for DLA if the application is successful.

Scottish families who used to get DLA from the DWP have all been moved across. The DWP says all Scottish recipients of DLA have been transferred to Social Security Scotland and it no longer runs DLA in Scotland.

To challenge a decision, you ask for a redetermination. The law gives you 42 days from when you are told about your right to ask, and Social Security Scotland then has 56 days to decide again. After that you can appeal to the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland.

Northern Ireland: DLA from the Department for Communities

In Northern Ireland DLA for children has the same basic test and the same rates as in England and Wales, but it is run by the Department for Communities through its Disability and Carers Service.

• Getting a form. Download the claim form from nidirect, or ask the Disability and Carers Service for a claim pack. Phone 0800 587 0912 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm) or email dcs.forms@dfcni.gov.uk with your name, address and the form you need. You can also ask at your local Jobs and Benefits office.
• Your date is protected. If you ask for a pack, the date you phone or email counts as your date of claim, as long as you send the form back within six weeks. DLA cannot be backdated, so ask for the pack as soon as you can.
• How long it takes. nidirect says it normally takes 30 working days from the day the Disability and Carers Service receives the form.
• Assessment. nidirect says your child may need an assessment to work out what help they need.
• Texts. Text messages about the claim are always clearly marked from the Department for Communities (DfC) and never ask you for personal or financial details.

To challenge a decision, ask for mandatory reconsideration on form MR2(NI) within one month of the date of the decision letter. You can then appeal to the Appeals Service (NI) within one month of the date on the mandatory reconsideration notice. Our mandatory reconsideration guide covers both systems.

Moving between Scotland and England or Wales

Moving to Scotland. If your child gets DLA and you move to Scotland, GOV.UK says you must report it by calling the DLA helpline. Their DLA continues for up to 13 weeks after the move. Apply for Child Disability Payment as soon as possible after moving, or your payments could be affected.

Moving from Scotland to England or Wales. Tell Social Security Scotland about the move. Under the Scottish rules, Child Disability Payment carries on for 13 weeks and then ends. Claim DLA from the DWP: the DLA form asks whether your child has moved from Scotland since 1 July 2021, the date they moved and whether they get or have claimed Child Disability Payment (questions 12 to 14).

Help for you as a carer

If you care for your child for at least 35 hours a week and they get the middle or highest care rate of DLA or Child Disability Payment, you might qualify for Carer's Allowance. In Scotland you apply for Carer Support Payment instead. Carer's Allowance has its own conditions for you as the carer, including an earnings limit, so check GOV.UK before you apply.

Frequently asked questions