Child Disability Payment is tax-free and made up of two components:
Children:
- three months old or over may qualify for the care component
- three years old or over may qualify for the mobility component
If the child is terminally ill:
- they qualify for the care component from birth
- they’ll also qualify for the mobility component if they’re three years old or over
A child's care and mobility needs are not only about their physical ability. They can include:
- emotional difficulties
- behavioural difficulties
- mental difficulties
- developmental difficulties
- learning difficulties
Care component
This has three different payment rates:
Lowest
This is a weekly rate of £24.45 and paid if the child either:
- needs attention from someone, for a significant part of the day, in connection with their bodily functions due to a physical or mental disability
- is 16 or older and, due to a mental or physical disability, is unable to prepare a cooked main meal for themselves
Middle
This is a weekly rate of £61.85 and paid if the child either:
- needs frequent attention from someone during the day, or prolonged or repeated attention at night, in connection with their bodily functions due to a physical or mental disability
- needs continual supervision during the day, or another person to be awake for a prolonged period or at frequent intervals at night, to avoid substantial danger to themselves or others
- gets renal dialysis treatment, during the day or at night, at least twice a week
Highest
This is a weekly rate of £92.40 and paid if the child either:
- needs frequent attention from someone during the day, and prolonged or repeated attention at night, in connection with their bodily functions due to a physical or mental disability;
- needs continual supervision during the day, and another person to be awake for a prolonged period or at frequent intervals at night, to avoid substantial danger to themselves or others;
- gets renal dialysis treatment, during the day and at night, at least twice a week;
- is terminally ill.
If you get the highest rate of the care component, you'll also get Child Winter Heating Assistance.
Mobility component
There are 2 payment rates for the mobility component:
Lower
This is a weekly rate of £24.45 and paid if the child:
- is age five or over
- can walk, with or without equipment, but most of the time needs guidance or supervision from another person to move around outdoors
Higher
This is a weekly rate of £64.50 and for children aged three and over.
It’s paid if the child either:
- cannot walk, or is virtually unable to move around outdoors due to their disability
- has a severe visual disability or is blind and deaf
- has a severe mental health disability
- has severe behavioural difficulties, due to a severe mental health disability, and needs supervision during the day and at night to avoid substantial danger to themselves or others
- would experience a serious deterioration in their health from the exertion of walking
- is terminally ill
If the child gets the higher rate mobility component, you can apply to lease an accessible vehicle.