My Child Gets DLA What Else Am I Entitled To?

Realising My Entitlements After My Child Was Awarded DLA

When I first received the letter confirming my child had been awarded Disability Living Allowance (DLA), I honestly thought that was it — just one monthly payment.

But I was wrong. That one benefit unlocked extra Universal Credit, discounted travel, grants, and even free holidays I didn’t know existed.

If you’re like I was — confused and overwhelmed about my child gets dla what else am i entitled to — this guide breaks down everything I discovered I was entitled to once my child got DLA. It made a huge difference to our lives, both financially and practically.

How Much Do Parents Get for DLA?

Let me clear one thing up right away — DLA is not paid to the parent, it’s paid for the child. However, as a parent or guardian, you’re the one managing the money for their care and support.

Your child may qualify for two components:

Care component: based on how much help they need with daily living
Mobility component: based on their mobility needs

Here’s what the 2025 DLA rates look like:

Component	Weekly Rate (£)
Care – Lower Rate	£28.70
Care – Middle Rate	£72.65
Care – Higher Rate	£108.55
Mobility – Lower Rate	£28.70
Mobility – Higher Rate	£75.75

My child, who has ADHD, qualified for the middle care rate, which helped me cover therapy sessions, special resources, and extra childcare when needed. Every case is different, but even the lower rates can open the door to more help.

Does Child DLA Affect Universal Credit?

Yes — and in a very positive way.

When I reported my child’s DLA award to Universal Credit, I noticed my monthly payment increased significantly. That’s because Universal Credit adds a “disabled child element” if your child receives DLA.

Here’s what it looked like for me:

Lower Disability Addition: ~£156.11/month (if your child gets any rate of DLA care or mobility)
Higher Disability Addition: ~£487.58/month (if your child gets the highest rate care)

If you’re receiving Child Tax Credit instead of Universal Credit, you might be entitled to a disability element or severe disability element, which works similarly.

This addition helped me cover transport, specialist tutors, and increased living costs without falling into debt.

What Benefits Can I Claim If My Child Receives DLA?

Beyond DLA itself, I found I could claim several additional benefits and adjustments:

Carer’s Allowance: if I spent 35+ hours caring per week
Universal Credit disability addition: as mentioned above
Housing Benefit/Council Tax Reduction: higher entitlement due to DLA
Disability premiums (in legacy benefits)
Warm Home Discount and Cold Weather Payment

Before DLA, my benefits were basic. After DLA, my overall income support package increased by hundreds each month — all because I knew what to ask for.

What Am I Entitled to If My Child Receives a Child Disability Payment?

If you live in Scotland, you won’t be receiving DLA — you’ll receive Child Disability Payment (CDP), which replaced DLA for children under 16.

When we moved to Scotland, our support didn’t stop. CDP offers the same rates and eligibility as DLA, and all the same extra entitlements applied — Carer’s Allowance, Universal Credit additions, travel benefits, and more.

The application was easier too, and I could manage everything online.

Can I Claim Carer’s Allowance If My Child Gets DLA?

Yes — and I did.

Because my child was awarded the middle rate care component, I became eligible for Carer’s Allowance, as I was providing over 35 hours of care a week.

I now receive £81.90 per week, which has helped cover part-time working hours and care-related expenses.

Just be aware that Carer’s Allowance can affect your other benefits, so use a calculator or speak to Citizens Advice before applying.

Learn more on £500 Grant for Carers with our expert guide now.

Are There Grants or One-Off Payments I Can Apply For?

Absolutely — and many families miss them. I almost did.

The one that helped me the most was the Family Fund, which gave us a grant to buy a sensory bed and educational toys. We also applied for:

Local Welfare Assistance through the council
Winter Fuel Grants
Scope’s Disability Energy Support scheme

Grants are often one-time payments but can be a lifesaver when budgets are stretched thin.

What Free Stuff Can I Get with DLA for a Child?

Here’s where things got really interesting.

Once my child was receiving DLA, we were suddenly eligible for free and discounted services, including:

Free bus travel for my child and me as a carer
Free incontinence supplies via NHS (based on local assessment)
Free school meals (depending on income)
Discounts at leisure centres, theme parks, cinemas
Merlin Pass concessions, and days out tailored to SEND families

Most of these benefits aren’t advertised widely — I found out by asking charities, councils, and even other parents online.

Can I Get a Free Holiday If My Child Gets DLA?

Not “free” in the sense that it’s automatic, but yes — we got a funded holiday thanks to DLA eligibility.

We applied to:

Happy Days Children’s Charity
Family Holiday Charity
Caudwell Children

These organisations offer respite breaks, holidays, or weekend trips for families with disabled children. The process involved a simple application, and proof of DLA was enough to qualify us.

Can You Get a Free Car on DLA?

While you can’t receive a car for free, the Motability Scheme lets you rent a car using the higher rate mobility component of DLA.

I used it to get a reliable, fully insured car that includes:

Maintenance and servicing
Breakdown cover
Road tax

It’s been a massive help, especially for hospital appointments and school runs. I didn’t need to pay upfront — the payment comes directly out of the mobility component.

What Extra Help Can I Get from My Local Council?

Local councils offer more than you might expect. After notifying mine, we received:

A reduction in council tax
A home adaptation grant
Priority for social housing
Access to short break services

Support varies between councils, so I recommend phoning your local Family Information Service or using the online council portal to check.

What Educational Support Could My Child and I Get?

My child also qualified for additional educational help once they had DLA.

We were guided through the process of getting an EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan), which made sure their needs were recognised and met at school.

We also got help with:

School uniforms
Free school transport
One-on-one classroom support

These resources made a huge difference in my child’s learning and confidence.

Can I Claim Any Discounts or Reduce My Bills?

Yes — some of the best financial relief I found came from lowering our bills.

With DLA, I became eligible for:

Warm Home Discount (£150 off energy bills)
Cold Weather Payments during winter
Social tariffs for water and broadband
BT Basic and Virgin Media Essential broadband plans

These savings added up quickly and made budgeting far easier.

Who Can Help Me Understand All My Options?

I couldn’t have figured all this out alone. These are the organisations that made a real difference:

Citizens Advice – explained all the benefits clearly
Scope – offered energy and disability advice
Contact – focused on families with disabled children
Turn2Us – helped me find grants and do benefit checks

Their support helped me navigate a complicated system with a lot less stress.

Conclusion: Knowing My Child Gets DLA Opened More Doors Than I Expected

When I first learned my child qualified for DLA, I had no idea it would unlock so many other forms of support — both financial and practical.

From Carer’s Allowance to council help, from grants to discounted travel, the range of support made a life-changing difference for us.

If you’re in the same boat, my advice is simple: ask questions, use calculators, and speak to support services. You’re likely entitled to far more than you think.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) On My Child Gets DLA What Else Am I Entitled To

1. Can I get Universal Credit if my child gets DLA?

Yes, if you’re eligible for Universal Credit, your payment may increase once your child is awarded DLA. This is due to the disabled child addition, which provides extra financial support.

2. How much does Universal Credit go up if your child gets DLA?

Depending on the rate of DLA your child receives, Universal Credit may increase by £156.11 (lower addition) or £487.58 (higher addition) per month in 2025.

3. Can I work and still get Carer’s Allowance?

Yes, you can work while obtaining Carer’s Allowance, but your wages must be below £151 per week (after deductions). Any higher and you may lose entitlement.

4. Is ADHD considered a disability for DLA?

Yes, ADHD can qualify a child for DLA if it significantly affects their daily care or supervision needs. The rate awarded depends on the severity and frequency of support required.

5. What grants are available if my child receives DLA?

You can apply for grants from the Family Fund, local councils, Scope, and Turn2Us. These may help with items like sensory equipment, furniture, holidays, or tech.

My Child Gets DLA What Else Am I Entitled To? – Know your Support