Benefits and finance support for children and young people with SEND aged 0 to 16
You may be eligible for benefits or get financial help if you look after a child or young person with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) or if you are a young person with SEND.
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children may help with the extra costs of looking after a child who:
- is under 16
- has difficulties walking or needs much more looking after than a child of the same age who does not have a disability
Find out more and apply for DLA for children.
Watch video guides about DLA with British Sign Language.
You automatically qualify for a Blue Badge if you are aged 3 or over and receive the higher rate of the mobility component of DLA.
You can also apply for exemption from vehicle tax if you get the higher rate mobility component. Please see information about vehicle tax exemption or watch a video with British Sign Language.
You may be eligible for a disabled person's bus pass if you receive the higher rate of the mobility component of DLA. Information about disabled person's bus pass eligibility.
Your child will need to apply for Personal Independence Payment when they turn 16. You can find out what happens to a Disability Living Allowance award when a child turns 16 in this video with British Sign Language.
Child Tax Credit and Universal Credit
Find out about Child Tax Credit from GOV.UK
Personal budgets and Direct Payments
A Personal Budget is an amount of money to help children and young people with SEN and/or disabilities. Find out more about personal budgets and direct payments here.
Childcare funding
The government offers a range of childcare funding, find out more at Childcare Choices.