Quick answer to "can you get DLA for autism?" Yes — but DLA is awarded based on your child's functional needs, not the diagnosis alone. The DWP does not award DLA just because a child is autistic. You need to describe, in detail, the extra care and supervision your child needs compared to a non-disabled child of the same age. This guide shows you exactly how to do that.
What is DLA and who is it for?
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is a non-means-tested, tax-free benefit for disabled children under 16. "Non-means-tested" means it does not matter how much you earn — if your child qualifies on functional grounds, you get it. It is designed to help with the extra costs that come from raising a disabled child: adaptations, travel, specialist equipment, additional care.
DLA has two components: Care and Mobility. Many autistic children qualify for both.
DLA Autism Rates 2025/26
These are the current DLA autism rates for the 2025/26 financial year. The DLA autism rate you receive depends on which component and which level applies to your child's needs.
| Component |
Rate |
Weekly Amount |
What it requires |
| Care |
Lower |
£28.70 |
Some care during the day, or needs help preparing a main meal |
| Care |
Middle |
£71.89 |
Frequent attention during the day, or supervision to avoid danger, or attention at night |
| Care |
Higher |
£107.57 |
Frequent attention day AND night, or 24-hour supervision |
| Mobility |
Lower |
£28.70 |
Needs guidance or supervision walking outdoors in unfamiliar places (age 5+) |
| Mobility |
Higher |
£75.35 |
Unable or virtually unable to walk; or severe mental impairment with severe behavioural problems and Higher Rate Care (age 5+) |
Rates are 2025/26. Always verify current amounts at gov.uk/disability-living-allowance-children. Rates are uprated each April.
Higher Rate Mobility DLA for Autism — The Route Most Parents Miss
Many parents assume higher rate mobility DLA for autism only applies to children who cannot physically walk. That is wrong. There is a second route — the "severe mental impairment" route — that applies to some autistic children.
The severe mental impairment (SMI) + severe behavioural problems route: If your child has arrested or severely impaired intellectual development, AND severe behavioural problems (disruptive behaviour that is extreme and regularly requires restraint), AND already receives Higher Rate Care — they may qualify for Higher Rate Mobility through this route. This is a high bar, but it applies to some autistic children with significant learning disabilities.
Lower Rate Mobility is more commonly awarded to autistic children. It applies where your child can physically walk but needs guidance or supervision from another person to walk outdoors safely in an unfamiliar environment — because they would otherwise run into roads, panic, or become unable to continue.
Examples of Successful DLA Claims for Autism — Care Component
These are the kinds of descriptions that appear in successful DLA claims for autism. The key is specificity — not "she needs help getting dressed" but exactly how long, how often, and what happens if you do not help.
Middle Rate Care: Typical successful examples
- Meltdowns requiring intervention: "My son has an average of 3–4 meltdowns per day. Each lasts 20–40 minutes and requires me to be present throughout to prevent him from banging his head on the floor or biting his arms. I cannot leave him during this time. This happens from the moment he wakes up through to bedtime."
- Prompted eating: "My daughter will not eat unless I sit beside her, narrate every step, and manage her sensory responses to textures. Meals take 45–60 minutes. Without this support she goes hours without food."
- Night supervision: "My son wakes between 2 and 5 times per night. He does not understand danger and will go downstairs and turn on the hob or leave the house. I have to supervise him back to bed each time."
- Communication support: "My child is largely non-verbal. I interpret for him in every setting — at school pick-up, at appointments, in public. Without me present, he cannot communicate his needs to anyone."
Higher Rate Care: Typical successful examples
- 24-hour supervision: "My daughter requires supervision at all times, day and night. She has no concept of danger, has previously escaped the house at 3am, and has run into traffic on two occasions. She cannot be left alone for any period."
- Severe self-injury: "During meltdowns my son scratches until he bleeds and bangs his head against walls. This happens multiple times daily and requires physical intervention. At night he also calls for me repeatedly and needs reassurance to return to sleep."
- Intensive daily care needs: "Every bodily function requires support: I dress him, brush his teeth (takes 20 minutes due to sensory refusal), prepare all food to specific criteria, physically guide him into the bathroom, and sit with him throughout the process. This takes hours each day."
Successful DLA Claim Examples: Mobility Component
- Lower Rate Mobility: "My son has no road awareness. He will walk straight into traffic without warning. He also absconds without notice — running away without looking back. I cannot take him anywhere outdoors without physically holding his hand or using a harness. He needs guidance and supervision walking outdoors at all times."
- Lower Rate Mobility — panic in unfamiliar places: "My daughter freezes and shuts down in any unfamiliar outdoor environment. She cannot continue walking and drops to the ground. She needs continuous direction, encouragement, and support from another person to walk any distance outside our immediate area."
Does Your Child Qualify? — The Functional Test
DLA for autistic children is assessed against children of the same age without a disability. A 6-year-old needing some help dressing would not qualify — all 6-year-olds need that. But a 12-year-old needing the same level of supervision as a 3-year-old in many areas of daily life likely would.
The question is always: "What extra care or supervision does my child need, over and above what a non-disabled child of the same age would need?"
Common autism needs that qualify for DLA:
- No road awareness / absconding risk → Care and/or Mobility
- Frequent meltdowns requiring adult intervention → Care
- Night waking / leaving home at night unsafely → Care (night)
- Rigid eating requiring significant preparation support → Care
- Self-injurious behaviour requiring supervision → Care
- Non-verbal / severe communication differences → Care
- Inability to manage toileting independently → Care
- Sensory processing requiring additional routines → Care
How to Apply for DLA for an Autistic Child
Step 1: Request the form
Call the DWP DLA helpline on 0800 121 4600 to request a form, or download it from gov.uk. The form is long (around 40 pages) and asks about your child's needs across multiple areas of daily living.
Step 2: Complete the form — worst day, not best
This is where most claims succeed or fail. Describe your child's worst days or typical bad days, not their best days. DWP assessors are looking for what happens regularly, not what your child achieves on a good day.
Critical mistake to avoid: Do not write "he can get dressed" if what you mean is "he can get dressed after 30 minutes of verbal prompting, three refusals, one meltdown, and me laying every item out in order." Describe the process — every step, every prompt, every intervention.
Step 3: Gather supporting evidence
Evidence does not make or break a claim but it helps. Useful evidence includes:
- Diagnosis letter or report
- EHCP (if your child has one) — Section B describes needs
- Letters from GP, paediatrician, CAMHS, or school SENCO
- Your own care diary (2–4 weeks of daily logs is powerful)
- Occupational therapy or speech therapy reports
You do not need all of these. A well-completed form from a parent who knows their child is often more persuasive than a brief letter from a professional.
Step 4: Submit and wait
DWP should decide within 40 working days. They may contact your child's professionals for more information. You can add further evidence at any point before the decision.
Step 5: If refused or awarded a lower rate
Do not accept a refusal or lower-rate award without challenging it. The majority of DLA appeals succeed at tribunal. Steps to challenge:
- Mandatory Reconsideration — ask DWP to look again within 1 month of the decision. Write a letter explaining what was missed.
- Appeal to tribunal — if Mandatory Reconsideration fails, you have 12 months to appeal to the Social Entitlement Tribunal. This is free.
Get free help from Citizens Advice, Contact (for families with disabled children), or your local IASK service if you are in Kent.
DLA for Autism and ADHD — Combined Claims
If your child has both autism and ADHD, describe all their needs together. The DWP looks at the overall picture of support needed. Co-occurring conditions often result in greater need — impulsivity combined with no road sense, for example — and that combined impact should be described clearly in the form.
Moving from DLA to PIP at 16 — What Autistic Young People Need to Know
When your child turns 16, DLA stops and they will be invited to claim Personal Independence Payment (PIP). This is not automatic — they must apply, and the descriptors are different. Many autistic young people do successfully claim PIP, but the transition is stressful and requires careful preparation.
Key points on moving from DLA to PIP at 16 for autism:
- DWP will write around 18 months before your child's 16th birthday
- DLA does not automatically transfer — a fresh PIP claim must be made
- PIP uses a points-based system across 10 daily living and 2 mobility activities
- Get help before the review: Citizens Advice, IASK, or a welfare rights service
- Request a face-to-face assessment rather than telephone for complex needs
- The existing DLA/PIP Decoder guide explains PIP descriptors for autism in detail
Is There a DLA Holiday Grant for Autism?
DLA itself is a weekly benefit — not a specific holiday grant. However, receiving DLA can open doors to other grants designed for family holidays:
- Family Fund — Grants for families with disabled children on low incomes. Can cover holidays, equipment, and breaks. Apply at familyfund.org.uk
- Carers Trust / local carers' centres — Some run holiday grant schemes. Contact Carers Trust Kent for current grants
- Kent SEND local offer — Short breaks funding available through Kent County Council for families with disabled children
- Autism Kent — Based in Whitstable, sometimes signposts to grant funding for Kent families
Being on DLA Higher Rate Care also qualifies your child for a Blue Badge, which can make holidays far more practical.
What Else DLA Unlocks
DLA is not just money in the bank. Once awarded, it can unlock other entitlements:
- Carer's Allowance — If your child receives Middle or Higher Rate Care DLA, and you care for them 35+ hours/week, you may qualify for Carer's Allowance (£81.90/week in 2025/26)
- Blue Badge — Automatic if your child receives Higher Rate Mobility DLA
- Free or discounted leisure — Many Kent venues offer free carer entry or reduced rates for DLA recipients
- Vehicle tax exemption — If your child receives Higher Rate Mobility DLA, the vehicle used for them may be exempt from road tax
- Motability scheme — Use Higher Rate Mobility DLA to lease an adapted vehicle
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you get DLA for autism without a formal diagnosis?
Technically, DLA can be claimed before a formal diagnosis — the benefit is based on needs, not diagnosis. In practice, having a diagnosis or a professional letter describing your child's needs makes the claim stronger. If you are waiting for an NHS assessment, do not wait to claim. Submit the form with whatever evidence you have.
How long does a DLA claim take?
DWP aims to decide within 40 working days (8 weeks), but it can take longer. If your claim is urgent due to terminal illness or severe deterioration, ask for an urgent processing.
Will claiming DLA affect any other benefits?
DLA does not count as income for most benefits. It does not affect Child Benefit, Tax Credits, or Universal Credit. In fact, receiving DLA can increase your Universal Credit or Tax Credit award through the disabled child element.
My child's DLA was refused — what next?
Request a Mandatory Reconsideration within 1 month. If that fails, appeal to tribunal. Most appeals are successful — do not give up at the first refusal. Get support from Citizens Advice or a welfare rights organisation before giving up.
🛠 Use our DLA Calculator tool to estimate which rate your child might qualify for based on their needs.
Try the DLA tool →
Equipment That Helps Autistic Children
Many parents find that certain sensory products help their autistic child with daily life — and some of these can be funded through DLA. Here are products other Kent parents recommend:
- Noise-cancelling headphones — Essential for sensory overload. Many autistic children wear them daily for school, shopping, or family outings. Expect to spend £10–25.
- Weighted blankets or lap pads — Deep pressure can be calming for sleep and relaxation. Start with a lap pad (around £25) before investing in a full blanket (£40+).
- Visual timers — "How long until we leave?" is easier when they can see time passing. £12–22 typically.
- Chew toys / chewelry — Safe outlet for oral sensory needs. £7–12 for a good silicone necklace.
- Visual schedule cards — Picture cards help reduce anxiety about transitions. £15–25 for a set.
We've compiled a full list of parent-recommended products with verified reviews:
View Parent-Recommended Products →