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Who can get child disability payment

Your child can get child disability payment if they,

Rules about age

To get the care component of child disability payment, your child must be at least three months, unless they are terminally ill in which case this rule does not apply. 

To get the higher rate of mobility component they must be at least three years old and to get the lower rate of the mobility component, they must be at least five years old. 

For both components of child disability payment your child must be under 16 to claim, although, if it they are entitled from before their 16th birthday, they can continue to receive it up until they reach 18.

Who can get the care component

If your child has extra care needs, or needs extra supervision as a result of their disability or health condition, they may be entitled to the care component. The care needs or supervision must be more than, or different from, the needs that a child of their age would usually have.

The rate the child gets depends on the level of looking after they need, for example:

  • lowest rate - help for some of the day
  • middle rate - frequent help or constant supervision during the day, repeated help or supervision at night or someone to help while they are on dialysis
  • highest rate - help or supervision during both day and night, or they are terminally ill

Your child must have had the extra care or supervision needs for at least 13 weeks, and expect to have them for at least a further 26 weeks unless they are terminally ill.

Who can get the mobility component

If your child has difficulty walking, cannot walk at all or needs extra supervision or guidance when walking outside, they may be entitled to the mobility component.

Your child can get the higher rate of the mobility component, if they are at least three years old and,

  • are unable , or virtually unable, to walk, or
  • the exertion need to walk would lead to a danger to their life or deterioration in their condition, or
  • have no legs or feet (regardless of use of artificial limbs), or
  • are both blind and deaf, or
  • have a severe visual impairment, or
  • are terminally ill, or
  • qualify for the highest rate of the care component and have a ‘severe mental impairment’ and severe behavioural difficulties

Your child can get the lower rate of the mobility component, if they are at least five years old and because of mental or physical difficulties they cannot get about outside on unfamiliar route without supervision or guidance from another person most of the time. The supervision or guidance must be more than a child of their age would usually need.

Your child must have had the mobility difficulties, and expect to have them for at least a further 26 weeks unless they are terminally ill.

Residence conditions

As well as normally living in Scotland, to get child disability payment your child must usually have lived in the ‘common travel area’ (UK, Ireland, Channel Islands, Isle of Man) for 26 weeks out of the last 52. If your child is under six months, this is reduced to 13 weeks instead of 26 weeks and this rule does not apply at all if they are terminally ill.

Terminal illness and child disability payment

If your child is terminally ill, they are entitled to the highest rate of the care component and, from their third birthday, the higher rate of the mobility component. 

They are ‘terminally ill’ if they have a progressive disease that can reasonably be expected to cause their death. This must be confirmed by a registered medical practitioner or registered nurse involved in the child’s care. The doctor or nurse should complete a Benefits Assistance under Special Rules in Scotland (BASRiS) form. Find out more about when to complete a BASRiS form on Social Security Scotland's website. Read the Chief Medical Officer's guidance for doctors and nurses completing the BASRiS form.

Child disability payment can be backdated to when your child was judged to be terminally ill by a registered medical practitioner or nurse providing you claim within 26 weeks of this date. If you claim later than this, child disability payment can be backdated for 26 weeks in this situation.

Child disability payment and 'severe mental impairment'

A child has a ‘severe mental impairment’ if they have a severe impairment of intelligence and social functioning as a result of either,

  • a state of arrested development as a result of failure of their brain to grow in the way normally expected, or
  • a deficiency in the functionality of the brain as a result of its incomplete physical development.

How much is child disability payment

The care component of child disability payment is paid at one of three rates:

  • lowest rate: £28.70 a week
  • middle rate: £72.65 a week
  • highest rate: £108.55 a week

The mobility component is paid at one of two rates:

  • lower rate: £28.70 a week
  • higher rate £75.75 a week

Your child can get both the care component and the mobility component if they are entitled, or they may get only the care component or only the mobility component.

How to claim

You should claim as soon as you can if you think your child may be entitled to child disability payment as it cannot be backdated, unless your child is terminally ill.

To claim you can:

  • phone Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222
  • claim online at mygov.scot
  • fill out a claim form and send it by post - you'll need to ask Social Security Scotland to send you the form

If you disagree with the decision made by Social Security Scotland about child disability payment, you can challenge this decision by asking for a 'redetermination' and, if necessary, by appealing to a First-tier Tribunal. 

More information

Learn more by having a look at CPAG in Scotland’s free eLearning on child disability payment.

See our factsheet aimed at education staff who may be asked to provide further information to help Social Security Scotland get a fuller picture of your child's needs.

For in-depth information about child disability payment, read chapter 76 of the Welfare benefits and tax credits handbook. You'll need a subscription to be able to log in and read the content. 

Read the child disability payment regulations on legislation.gov.uk.