If your child has special needs there are two benefits you may be able to claim.
Disability
Living Allowance (DLA)
If your child has been diagnosed with having special needs you are entitled to claim DLA on their behalf. This benefit is designed to provide financial help to meet the 'extra' needs of a child with an ongoing medical condition or a disability. The criteria for claiming this benefit are that the child is over 3 months old and their condition or disability is expected to continue for at least a further 6 months. The important thing to note is that this is your child's benefit and therefore does not affect any other benefits you may be receiving. Moreover, once the child is sixteen and is assessed as still needing DLA the benefit passes directly to them.
It is often the case
that the doctors cannot give a name to your child's condition, as it does not
fit completely with any known syndrome or disability. However, if there are
clearly difficulties with your child's health, development and/or behaviour, and
this involves you in providing 'extra' care for them they may be entitled to
this benefit.
There are 2 components to DLA.
Care - the child's needs are such that they need a level of personal care that a child of their age would not usually require.
Mobility – This part of the benefit is for children over 3 years of age with severe walking difficulties. There is a three-month qualifying period before the mobility component can be paid, but this can start before your child reaches three years of age. If your child is aged two and a half to five years old, and you think they might qualify for the mobility component, you should claim now.
If you think that
your child may be entitled to this benefit contact your local Benefits Agency
and ask for a claim pack for DLA for a Child.
You should use the form DLA1 Child which is specifically aimed at
applications concerning children with disabilities and special needs.
Carers Allowance
You can claim Carers Allowance if you care for a child who is receiving DLA at the middle or highest rate of the care allowance, for at least 35 hours a week. You cannot however claim this allowance if you earn more than £95 a week working outside the home. Recent changes in the law which provide working parents with the right to take up to 18 weeks of unpaid leave in order to look after a child may mean that you could claim Carer's Allowance during such a period of unpaid leave. A lot will depend on your individual circumstances, so you would need to discuss this with a welfare rights worker or the Benefits Agency.
Claim Forms
The claim forms for
DLA and Carers Allowance can be difficult to complete. The questions often seem
repetitive and ask you to think about your child in a negative way - what can
she not do? It is a good idea to take some time to fill out the forms and if
possible have someone to help you such as a friend or Welfare Rights and CAB
staff. As we are usually trying to be very positive about our children's
progress completing these forms can be a stressful process. You may have
complicated feelings about your role as a 'parent/carer'. As we have direct
experience of this role, SNIP staff can offer you support and help you to think
about the day-to-day realities of caring for your particular child's needs. SNIP
can also provide you with useful guidelines that explain the various terms
referred to in the forms.
Claim forms for all benefits can be obtained from the Benefits Enquiry Line : 0800
88 22 00.
Click here if you would like to download our benefits advice sheet.
Contact a Family produce an excellent guide to benefits, tax credits and other financial assistance. It can be downloaded from their website at www.cafamily.org.uk/benefits.html