DLA

DLA for children Disability Living Allowance in Scotland In Scotland, children cannot make a new claim for DLA. They get Child Disability Payment instead. Read the full definition of Disability Living Allowance in Scotland is about the care and mobility your child needs compared with a child of the same age who is not disabled. GOV.UK describes it as being for a child who "is under 16" and who "has difficulties walking or needs much more looking after than a child of the same age who does not have a disability".

The decision rests on care and mobility needs, not on a label, so a diagnosis is not the thing being tested. A diagnosis or an assessment report Assessment report The written report you get at the end of an assessment. You are entitled to your own copy, and you can ask for factual mistakes to be put right. Read the full definition of Assessment report can be useful evidence of those needs, but it is the day to day help your child requires that the form is asking about.

Where you live changes what you apply for. DLA for children runs in England and Wales, and Northern Ireland has its own DLA for children administered there. Scotland is different: GOV.UK says a child living in Scotland must "apply for Child Disability Payment Child Disability Payment Money to help with the extra costs of a disabled child in Scotland. It has taken the place of DLA for children there. Read the full definition of Child Disability Payment instead of DLA for children". Child Disability Payment is run by Social Security Scotland, is for "children under 16 with a physical or mental disability", and explicitly does not require a formal diagnosis.

Applying takes time and detail. Free advice from a benefits adviser or a disability charity is worth using.