Benefits & money
DLA, carer support and the financial help families with a disabled child are entitled to.
33 free resources
Benefits & money guides
Free guides on DLA, benefits and money for families with disabled children, plus a helpline.
Help & advice for carers
Rights, benefits and wellbeing support for parent carers, with free guides and a helpline.
Disability advice & helpline
Free disability advice, family services and the Scope helpline.
Learning Disability Helpline
Free information and advice on learning disability via Mencap's Learning Disability Helpline.
ADHD information and helpline for families
Contact's ADHD hub for parents of disabled children, with a free UK helpline (0808 808 3555), parent guides and links to specialist support.
Cerebra DLA Guide: step-by-step help with the form
Free question-by-question guide to completing a child's DLA claim form, with tips, example wording and how to appeal (England and Wales).
Citizens Advice: Help filling in the DLA form for your child
Free practical guidance on completing the child DLA form, with worked tips and a downloadable 7-day care diary template.
Contact: Backdating the UC disabled child addition
Free explainer on claiming and backdating the Universal Credit disabled child addition and carer element so families don't miss out.
Contact: DLA for disabled children (guide and helpline)
Free guide to claiming DLA for a child, covering rates, care and mobility, and appeals, with a benefits adviser helpline on 0808 808 3555.
Contact Freephone Helpline for Families with Disabled Children
Free UK-wide helpline (0808 808 3555) advising parents of children with ADHD or any additional need on behaviour, benefits and support - no diagnosis needed.
Contact: Online grants search (Turn2us)
Free grants-search directory for families of disabled children to find charitable grants they may be eligible for, on behalf of any household member.
Contact: Tips on completing the DLA form
Free section-by-section tips for the child DLA form, with 'good day/bad day' wording and video walkthroughs from a benefits adviser (England, Wales, NI).
DLA care diary template (7-day, printable PDF)
Free printable 7-day diary to record your child's care and supervision needs as evidence before filling in the DLA form.
DLA Mandatory Reconsideration Letter Tool
Free guided tool that builds a strong mandatory reconsideration letter to challenge a child's DLA decision; shown to more than double success rates.
Family Fund grant search
Free grant search for low-income families raising a disabled or seriously ill child, matching you to grants for equipment, breaks and essentials.
Family Fund SFDC grants (England)
Free DfE-funded grant scheme for low-income England families raising a disabled or seriously ill child: appliances, tech, sensory kit and family breaks.
GOV.UK: Apply for or renew a Blue Badge
Official online service to apply for or renew a Blue Badge for a child or as their carer; check eligibility before you start.
GOV.UK: Carer's Allowance
Official guide for parents caring 35+ hours a week for a disabled child on DLA/PIP: eligibility, rates and how to claim.
GOV.UK: Council tax discounts for disabled people (band reduction)
Official guide to the Disabled Band Reduction Scheme, which can lower your council tax band when a disabled child or adult lives in an adapted home.
GOV.UK: Disability Living Allowance for children
Official guide to DLA for under-16s: who qualifies, the care and mobility rates, and how to claim.
GOV.UK: Free childcare for 2-year-olds who get extra support
Official guide to 15 hours' free childcare for 2-year-olds whose child gets DLA or has an EHC plan, plus how to apply.
GOV.UK: Home adaptations for a disabled child (Disabled Facilities Grant)
Official guide on getting a Disabled Facilities Grant to adapt your home for a disabled child, and how an OT assessment works.
Help and support for autistic people and their families
NHS hub signposting free UK support for parents of autistic children: GP and local autism teams, councils, schools, and national charities.
Mencap DLA mandatory reconsideration letter template
Free downloadable Word template letter for requesting a mandatory reconsideration of a DLA decision.
NAS Transition Support Helpline
Free helpline (0808 800 0027) giving autistic young people and families advice on the move from school, college or university to adult life.
Planning for Adulthood (England) Guide
Free guide for families of young people with severe learning disabilities on planning the move to adult education, health and social care services.
Preparing for Adult Life
Free hub for families on moving a disabled child into adulthood: planning, money and work, housing, services, health and a free helpline.
Scope: Applying for Universal Credit (disabled child element)
Free guide to Universal Credit for families, explaining the disabled child addition you may get when your child receives DLA or PIP.
Scope: Benefits and funding for a disabled child
Free hub covering DLA, Carer's Allowance, Universal Credit, grants and home adaptations for families with a disabled child, plus a benefits calculator.
Scope: Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children
Free charity guide to claiming DLA for a disabled child, including how to evidence needs on the long form (England and Wales).
Scope Helpline (free benefits and money advice)
Free helpline (0808 800 3333) for parents of disabled children seeking advice on benefits, grants, DLA forms and money worries.
Scope: Moving from DLA to PIP when your child turns 16
Free guide to the DLA-to-PIP switch at 16: the invitation letter, deadlines, the assessment, and that the award amount can change.
Transition to Adulthood in England: Factsheet for Parents
Free factsheet explaining what transition to adulthood involves for children with learning difficulties, covering EHC plans and mental capacity.
More along the way
Links to external organisations are provided for information. Remarkable Minds isn't responsible for the content of external sites, and a listing here isn't an endorsement.
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