Information for Parents and Carers of Children with - Dundee City ...

BENEFITS
ARE YOU CLAIMING ALL YOU'RE ENTITLED TO?
Caring for a child who has an illness or disability can make daily life difficult. You may be
entitled to claim cash benefits and get other kinds of support. Make sure you claim all you
are entitled to.
BENEFITS ARE THERE TO HELP YOUR CHILD
The following is a very brief guide to benefits. If you think you may be entitled to any of them
contact your local Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) office or phone the free Benefits
Enquiry Line (BEL) for people with disabilities and their carers on
FREEPHONE 0800 882200
Some of the claim forms are lengthy and can be complicated so do ask for help in filling
them in or you could miss out on a benefit. Your Social Worker, Health Visitor or other
professional will be able to help or phone BEL and ask for the Completions Service.
If you need advice or are unhappy with the decision of the DWP your local Citizen's Advice
Bureau or advice agency will be able to advise you. A Welfare Rights Officer, available on
01382 431167, will also be able to assist and advise, either on the phone or at one of their
locally held surgeries, within community settings. You only have only one month to lodge an
appeal so you should act quickly.
DISABILITY LIVING ALLOWANCE
DLA is the most important benefit for people with disabilities. It is paid in addition to any
other money you may receive and unlocks a number of other benefits, particularly for those
on low incomes. These could include more Income Support, lower rent and Council tax
payments, etc. DLA has 2 parts - The Care component and the Mobility component. You
may receive either or both if you qualify.
The Care Component can be awarded from the age of 3 months (or from birth for the
terminally ill). Which rate of care you receive (low, middle or high) depends on the amount of
attention and/or supervision your child requires, day and/ or night. He/she must have
supervision needs more than the normal requirements of a person of his/her age.
To qualify for the Mobility component your child must be 3 years or older. There are 2 rates
(low and high). The higher rate is awarded to those who:
• are unable, or virtually unable, to walk or
• have no legs or feet whether they can use artificial aids or
• are both deaf and blind or
• are severely mentally impaired and who qualify for the higher rate of care component
and have extremely disruptive and dangerous behaviour problems.
The lower rate is for those who need guidance or supervision out of doors.
To ensure you qualify for the correct rate of either component, it is a good idea to keep a
note of your daily schedule of care, guidance and supervision needs, include even the
smallest of tasks for the whole day. For nigh time care concentrate on how often you need
to see your child at night. Remember to include stimulation/physiotherapy/speech
Information Pack – Children’s Services 48