Child Disability Payment

What is Child Disability Payment

Child Disability Payment is a benefit for disabled children and young people who live in Scotland. It’s a payment to help with the extra costs of being disabled or having a long-term health condition.

It’s paid by Social Security Scotland.

Child Disability Payment has replaced Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children and young people who live in Scotland.

Who can get Child Disability Payment

To get Child Disability Payment, a child must:

• live in Scotland or another qualifying country

• be under 16 at the time of the application

• have a disability or health condition that has lasted for at least 13 weeks and is expected to continue for the next 26 weeks, unless they're terminally ill

• meet some residence and immigration rules.

You can apply for a child if you’re their parent or the person responsible for them, for example their grandparent, adult sibling or kinship carer.

You cannot get Child Disability Payment for a child who gets:

• DLA for children

• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

• Adult Disability Payment

• Armed Forces Independence Payment.

What age must a child be

A child must be under 16 when you apply for Child Disability Payment for them. If they’re 16 or older, they might be able to claim Adult Disability Payment instead.

Find out more about Adult Disability Payment.

There are also different age rules for different parts of the payment.

How much is Child Disability Payment

Child Disability Payment is made up of 2 parts called components – a care component and a mobility component. Each component is paid at a different rate.

You can get 1 or both components, depending on your child’s care or mobility needs. You only need to make 1 application.

The care component

The care component is paid if a child needs increased attention, supervision or watching over.

You can get the care component for a child if they’re aged 3 months or older. If a child is terminally ill, you can apply for them from birth.

You can get 1 of 3 rates of care component:

• lowest - £28.70

• middle - £72.65

• highest - £108.55.

The rate paid will depend on the level of care and supervision a child needs because they’re disabled or have a health condition.

A child must need a lot more help or supervision than would be usual for someone their age. For example, all babies and infants need a lot of care, but you could get the care component if your child needs a lot more help and supervision than a child of the same age who isn't disabled and doesn't have a health condition. This rule doesn’t apply if a child is terminally ill or if they’re 16 or older.

To get the care component, a child must:

• meet the conditions for at least 13 weeks, and

• be likely to continue meeting the conditions for the next 26 weeks – unless they’re terminally ill.

The child does not need to have a formal diagnosis to get the care component.

Who can get the lowest rate of the care component

A child might get the lowest rate if they:

• need attention with their bodily functions for a significant portion of the day - this can be once or several times during the day, or

• are 16 years or older and cannot make a cooked main meal if provided with the ingredients because of a mental or physical disability.

Bodily functions are activities such as breathing, hearing, seeing, eating, drinking, moving around indoors, sitting, sleeping, getting in and out of bed or a chair, washing, going to the toilet, communicating, getting dressed and undressed.

Attention means close and personal care, like helping someone use the toilet or giving medications.

The ability to cook a main meal isn’t a test of cooking ability. It’s a way of assessing if a young person can perform a complex activity and complete it safely.

Who can get the middle rate of the care component

 A child might get the middle rate if they:

• meet 1 of the day-time conditions or 1 of the night-time conditions, or

• get renal dialysis at least twice a week during the day or at night.

Who can get the highest rate of the care component

A child might get the highest rate if they:

• meet both a day-time condition and a night-time condition

• get renal dialysis at least twice a week, during the day and at night, or

• are terminally ill.

Day-time conditions 

A child meets a day-time condition if, as a result of a mental or physical disability, they need:

• frequent attention throughout the day in connection with their bodily functions, or

• continual supervision throughout the day to avoid substantial danger to themselves or other people.

Night-time conditions

A child meets a night-time condition if, as a result of a mental or physical disability, they need:

• prolonged or repeated attention from another person at night in connection with their bodily functions, or

• another person to watch over them at night for a prolonged period or at frequent intervals, to avoid substantial danger to themselves or others.

The mobility component

The mobility component is paid if a child is disabled or has a health condition and this affects their ability to move around outdoors.

They might have physical problems walking or need extra guidance or supervision.

You can get 1 of 2 rates of mobility component:

• lower - £28.70

• higher - £75.75.

A child must:

• meet the conditions for at least 13 weeks, and

• be likely to continue meeting the conditions for the next 26 weeks – unless they’re terminally ill.

The child does not need to have a formal diagnosis to get the mobility component.

Who can get the lower rate of the mobility component

 A child might qualify for the lower rate of £28.70 if they: 

• are 5 years or older

• can walk, and

• are so severely disabled, either physically or mentally, that they need guidance or supervision from another person most of the time when moving around outdoors in an unfamiliar place.

If a child is under 16, the guidance or supervision they need must be much more than would normally be expected for someone of a similar age who isn't disabled.

For example, a young deaf child might need someone to stay within touching distance whereas a hearing child of the same age wouldn’t.

If a child cannot move around outdoors because of fear or anxiety caused by a mental health condition, they might be able to get the lower rate of the mobility component.

Who can get the higher rate of the mobility component

A child might be eligible for the higher rate of £75.75 if they’re 3 years or older and:

• they’re unable or virtually unable to walk outdoors

• their health would get much worse from the effort required to walk

• they have no legs or feet, even if they use artificial limbs or other aids to walk

• they have a severe visual impairment

• they’re both blind and deaf

• they have a severe mental impairment with severe behavioural difficulties and qualify for the highest rate of the care component, or

• they’re terminally ill.

Getting an accessible car or other vehicle from the Accessible Vehicle and Equipment (AVE) Scheme

If you get the higher rate of the mobility component of Child Disability Payment, you can get an accessible car or other vehicle through the Accessible Vehicle and Equipment (AVE) Scheme.

Rules about living in Scotland

To get Child Disability Payment, a child must usually be all of the following:

• ordinarily resident in Scotland

• habitually resident in the UK, Ireland, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands

• not subject to immigration control - find out more about accessing benefits and services if you're subject to immigration control

• present in the UK, Ireland, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands for a set number of weeks.

There are different rules for some nationals of the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

Get advice if you’re not sure if you can get Child Disability Payment because of residence issues.

Ordinarily resident in Scotland

This means that a child normally lives in Scotland.

If a child lives in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland, they might be able to get the care component of Child Disability Payment if they have a genuine or sufficient link to Scotland.

Get advice if you’re not sure if you can get Child Disability Payment because of residence issues.

Habitually resident in the UK, Ireland, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands

To be considered habitually resident means you:

• have lived in the UK, Ireland, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands for at least 1 to 3 months and

• plan to stay for a reasonable, although not necessarily permanent, length of time.

You can only be habitually resident in 1 place at a time.

Check how to prove that you're habitually resident.

Get advice if you’re not sure if you can get Child Disability Payment because of residence issues.

Present in the UK, Ireland, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands

You must be present in the UK, Ireland, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands when you make the application for Child Disability Payment. These places form the Common Travel Area.

Your child must also have lived in the Common Travel Area for a minimum amount of time. This is known as the 'past presence test'.

How long your child needs to have lived in the Common Travel Area depends on their age. If they're:

• under 6 months old - they must have been present in the Common Travel Area for at least 13 weeks (or periods that add up to 13 weeks)

• 6 months or older - they must have been present in the Common Travel Area for at least 26 weeks (or periods that add up to 26 weeks) of the 52 weeks before the application for Child Disability Payment is made.

Your child won’t have to meet the 'past presence' test if:

• they’re terminally ill

• they live with a member of the UK armed forces or a civil servant who is serving abroad.

Temporary absence

You can still count as present during a temporary absence from the Common Travel Area.

A temporary absence is one that isn’t expected to last more than 52 weeks.

If your child is temporarily absent from the Common Travel Area for any reason, they’ll remain eligible for Child Disability Payment for the first 13 weeks of the absence.

They’ll also remain entitled to Child Disability Payment for the first 26 weeks of any absence if they’re going abroad to receive medical treatment for a health condition that they had before they left the Common Travel Area.

Members of the armed forces or civil servants living abroad

A child will be considered to meet the residence and presence rules if the only reason they’re absent from the Common Travel Area is that they live with a family member who is living abroad because they're a:

• serving member of the UK armed forces

• civil servant.

If a child hasn’t lived in the Common Travel Area for long enough

A child might be eligible for Child Disability Payment if they’re dependent on a parent who has:

• worked and paid national insurance in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland for 6 months in the last year

• claimed benefits in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland for 6 months in the last year.

If a child doesn’t meet the rules about being present in the Common Travel Area when you apply for Child Disability Payment but they will do within 3 months of the application, they’ll be entitled to Child Disability Payment from the date they meet the rules.

Get advice if you’re not sure if you can get Child Disability Payment because of residence issues.

How to apply

You can apply:

• online - by completing an application form at mygov.scot

• by phone - by calling Social Security Scotland free on 0800 182 2222, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm

• by post - you can phone to ask for a paper form with a pre-paid envelope

• face to face - an adviser from Social Security Scotland's local delivery service can help you apply. Phone 0800 182 2222 to make an appointment.

If you're a British Sign Language (BSL) user, you can use the contactSCOTLAND app to contact Social Security Scotland by video relay.

Completing the application form

There are 2 parts to the main Child Disability Payment application form. You start the application by completing part 1. You then have 42 days (6 weeks) to complete part 2.

You should try to complete part 1 as soon as you can because Child Disability Payment can be paid from that date.

If you're going to have difficulty completing the application within the 6-week deadline, you should tell Social Security Scotland. If you have a good reason for not meeting the deadline, you might be able to get more time.

You can read the questions that you'll be asked when applying for Child Disability Payment on mygov.scot.

There is advice about completing the Child Disability Payment form in 'Parent guide: Claiming Child Disability Payment' on the Contact website.

If a child is terminally ill

There’s a different and quicker process for claiming Child Disability Payment if a child is terminally ill.

Find out more about how to apply for Child Disability Payment on mygov.scot.

Applying in advance

You can apply for the payment up to 13 weeks before you're eligible for it.

This means you can apply while you're waiting:

• for your disability to have lasted more than 13 weeks

• to meet the residence rules

• to meet the age rules.

The date you become eligible for the payment is the date you meet all of the conditions.

Get help to apply

You can get help to apply from:

• Social Security Scotland's Local Delivery Service - phone 0800 182 2222 to make an appointment

• a Citizens Advice Bureau.

You can also fill in a form to authorise someone to speak to Social Security Scotland on your behalf. This might be helpful if you feel unable to find the information you need or understand things about your application. You can download a third-party authorisation form on mygov.scot.

Help from the Independent Advocacy Service

You can get help from the Independent Advocacy Service. This service is provided by VoiceAbility.

You can get an advocate by:

• asking Social Security Scotland to refer you to the Independent Advocacy Service. Find out how to contact Social Security Scotland on mygov.scot

• contacting VoiceAbility. Find out more about support to access benefits on the VoiceAbility website.

VoiceAbility can help you express your views, get information you need and help you make decisions.

How are decisions made

Social Security Scotland will make a decision about your application using existing supporting information only and not through face-to-face assessments or consultations.

Examples of supporting information include:

• a social care needs assessment

• a report from an educational psychologist

• information from a parent.

Find out more about supporting information for Child Disability Payment on the mygov.scot website.

Getting a decision

Once you’ve applied, you’ll receive updates on the progress of your claim.

A decision will be sent to you by post. A decision is called a determination.

If you’ve applied for a terminally ill child, Social Security Scotland will aim to make a decision within 7 working days.

Decisions about all other applications can take up to 6 months. In a small number of complex cases it can take longer.

If your application is successful, the money will be paid into your bank, building society or credit union account.

The decision letter will also tell you when your award of Child Disability Payment will be reviewed.

If Social Security Scotland decide you’re not entitled to Child Disability Payment, they’ll send you a letter explaining why.

If you do not agree with the decision

You can ask Social Security Scotland to look again at the decision about your Child Disability Payment application. This is called asking for a re-determination.

Find out more about challenging a Social Security Scotland decision.

When is Child Disability Payment paid

Child Disability Payment will be paid every 4 weeks in arrears into your bank account, building society or credit union account.

If your application was made under the special rules for terminal illness, payment will be made every week in advance.

You can choose what to spend the money on, Social Security Scotland won’t ask for receipts.

How long will Child Disability Payment be paid for

Once a child has been awarded Child Disability Payment, they'll continue to get it until they're 18, as long as they still meet the conditions for it. In some situations they can get Child Disability Payment after they've turned 18.

Find out more about what happens when a child turns 18.

The award letter from Social Security Scotland will give a review date. At the review date, Social Security Scotland will check to see if your child is still entitled to Child Disability Payment.

Reviews

Review dates will be set and based on when a child or young person’s condition is likely to change.

A review can take place between 2 and 10 years after the decision about Child Disability Payment was made.

If a child’s condition is unlikely to change, the review will take place 5 to 10 years after the first decision.

Social Security Scotland will contact you 1 month before the review date. Payments will continue during a review.

They will ask if there have been any changes to your child’s condition since they made the first decision about Child Disability Payment.

Social Security Scotland will make a new decision based on the information you give them and will tell you what the new award will be and any new review date. If you don’t agree with the review decision, you can ask for it to be looked at again.

If a child is terminally ill, they won’t have their Child Disability Payment reviewed.

A review can also take place if there is a change of circumstances that might affect the child’s eligibility for Child Disability Payment, for example, their condition has improved or got worse. Find out more about how a change of circumstances can affect Child Disability Payment.

Find out more about Child Disability Payment reviews on mygov.scot.

How Child Disability Payment affects tax and other benefits

Child Disability Payment isn’t means tested so it doesn’t matter how much you earn or how much money you have in savings.

You don’t pay tax on Child Disability Payment.

Child Disability Payment doesn’t reduce your other benefits or tax credits.

You might be able to get other benefits and help because you get Child Disability Payment.

If there’s a change of circumstances

You should tell Social Security Scotland if there is a change of circumstances.

Find out more about how a change of circumstances can affect Child Disability Payment.

When a child turns 16

When a child turns 16, they can start to have Child Disability Payment paid directly to them. You can continue to get the payment for the child if they still need someone to manage their affairs. Social Security Scotland will write to you about this before the child is 16.

A child can also choose to apply for Adult Disability Payment from age 16. You should get advice to help decide whether to do this. The conditions for Adult Disability Payment are different from Child Disability Payment, and the child might not qualify for Adult Disability Payment or might qualify for a lower amount.

Find out more about Adult Disability Payment.

Read more about moving from Child Disability Payment to Adult Disability Payment on mygov.scot.

When a child turns 18

In most cases, Child Disability Payment can be paid until a child is 18. They'll get a letter from Social Security Scotland shortly before their 18th birthday about moving from Child Disability Payment to Adult Disability Payment.

A young person who is terminally ill will normally transfer to Adult Disability Payment when they turn 18. But if they prefer not to transfer, they can continue to get Child Disability Payment after they've turned 18.

A young person can continue to get Child Disability Payment until they're 19 if any of the following apply:

• they're waiting for a decision about their entitlement to Adult Disability Payment

• they turned 18 on or before 31 December 2023 and were getting DLA immediately before moving to Scotland

• they turned 18 on or before 31 December 2023 and are transferring from DLA to Child Disability Payment.

Find out more about Adult Disability Payment.

Get more help

You can get advice from a Citizens Advice Bureau.

You can get advice from the Money Talk Team at your local Citizens Advice Bureau. You can call 0800 028 1456 to be directed to your local bureau. You can also find more information on the Money Talk Team website.

You can also contact Social Security Scotland.