Other benefits and help if you get Child Disability Payment

This advice applies to Scotland. See advice for See advice for England, See advice for Northern Ireland, See advice for Wales

If you get Child Disability Payment for a child, you might be able to get:

  • a higher rate of your existing benefits

  • other benefits for the first time

  • help with travel - for example, you might not have to pay vehicle tax

  • grants and other help.

Child Disability Payment isn’t treated as income for other benefits and you don’t pay tax on it.

Check if you can get Child Disability Payment.

You can use the Child Disability Payment award letter to apply for other benefits and help.

The Child Disability Payment award pack will also include a Certificate of Entitlement and a personal ID for anyone who gets the higher rate of the mobility component. This can be used to apply for a blue badge.

If you don’t have proof of the award, the other benefit provider will contact Social Security Scotland to confirm that you’re getting Child Disability Payment.

Cost-of-living payment

The UK government gave people who get Child Disability Payment a £150 cost-of-living payment between 20 June and 4 July 2023.

To get this payment, you must have:

  • been getting Child Disability Payment on 1 April 2023, or

  • applied for Child Disability Payment by 1 April 2023 - you won't get the payment until your claim is successful.

If you think you should have received a cost of living payment, you can report a missing payment on GOV.UK.

Higher payments of benefits you already get

You can get a higher rate of the following benefits if you get Child Disability Payment for a child:

  • Child Tax Credit

  • Housing Benefit

  • Universal Credit

  • Council Tax Reduction

  • Pension Credit.

You’ll also be exempt from the 'benefit cap' which limits the amount of benefit payments a household can get.

You might be able to get some of these benefits for the first time if your income was considered too high before.

Getting Child Disability Payment won’t reduce your other benefits.

When a child turns 16 they can start to get Child Disability Payment paid directly to them. They might also be able to get other benefits in their own right. This can affect the amount of benefit your household is entitled to. You should get advice to find out what the best options are for your particular circumstances when a child is 16.

Get help from an adviser to find out what benefits you're entitled to and how to apply for them.

Check if you can get other benefits

Getting Child Disability Payment can mean that you qualify for other benefits.

Carer’s Allowance or Carer Support Payment

Carer Support Payment is replacing Carer’s Allowance in Scotland. It’s available in different parts of Scotland at different times.

Carer’s Allowance and Carer Support Payment are benefits for people who look after someone who is disabled or has a health condition.

You can get Carer’s Allowance or Carer Support Payment if all of the following apply:

  • you’re aged 16 or over and meet the education conditions if you're a student

  • you don't earn more than £151 a week from employment or self-employment – after deductions such as income tax, National Insurance and half of your pension contributions

  • the child you care for gets the middle or highest rate of the care component of Child Disability Payment

  • you spend at least 35 hours a week caring for them.

You should check if you can claim Carer Support Payment where you live.  

If Carer Support Payment is not available where you live, check if you can claim Carer's Allowance.

Young Carer Grant

A Young Carer Grant is a payment of £383.75 from Social Security Scotland. It’s paid once a year to carers who:

  • are aged 16 to 18

  • live in Scotland

  • spend at least 16 hours a week on average caring for someone who gets the middle or highest rate of the care component of Child Disability Payment.

A young carer can get the grant even if someone else is already getting Carer’s Allowance for looking after the same person.

Check if you can get a Young Carer Grant.

Find out about other help and support that's available to carers.

Child Winter Heating Payment

Child Winter Heating Payment is paid to parents and carers to help with household costs for disabled children and young people under 19.

It's paid once a year by Social Security Scotland.

You don’t have to apply for Child Winter Heating Payment. It’s paid automatically to a child or young person under 19 in Scotland who is getting the highest rate of the care component of Child Disability Payment in the 'qualifying week'.

The qualifying week is the third week in September.

More about Child Winter Heating Payment.

Get help from an adviser to find out what benefits you're entitled to and how to apply for them.

Help with travel

If you get the higher rate of the mobility component of Child Disability Payment, you can get:

If you get the middle or highest rate of the care component of Child Disability Payment, you can get a free bus pass with free travel for a companion.

Find out more about bus passes and help with travel costs.

Grants and other help

You might be able to get a grant from the Family Fund or from Independent Living Fund (ILF) Scotland.

There are also other sources of help available from specialist disability organisations and support groups.

The Independent Living Fund

The Independent Living Fund (ILF) can provide money to help disabled people aged 16 or over to live independently. Find out more about the Independent Living Fund on the ILF Scotland website.

The Transition Fund

If you're disabled and aged 16 to 25, you might be able to get help from the Transition Fund. It can provide money to help you take part in a new activity or learn a new skill. Find out more about the Transition Fund on the ILF Scotland website.

The Person Centred Planning Grant can help you plan for your future before you apply to the Transition Fund. Find out more about the Person Centred Planning Grant on the ILF Scotland website.

The Transition Fund Technology Grant can provide you with a piece of technology to help you get online. Find out more about the Transition Fund Technology Grant on the ILF Scotland website.

The Family Fund

The Family Fund is a charity that gives grants to ease the stress on families who have a disabled or seriously ill child.

You can apply for help if you’re on a low income and you care for a disabled or seriously ill child at home.

The fund provides grants for a wide range of items, such as washing machines, sensory toys, family breaks, bedding, furniture, outdoor play equipment, clothing, computers and tablets.

Check if you can get help from the Family Fund.

Get help from an adviser

Get help from a Citizens Advice Bureau, to find out what benefits you can get and how to apply for them. You can also:

  • get advice from the Money Talk Team at your local bureau - call 0800 028 1456 to be directed to your local bureau or go to the Money Talk Team website

  • use a benefits calculator to find out if you're getting all the benefits you're entitled to.