Money and benefits for families

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is a benefit for children under 16 who need extra help or supervision because of a disability or long-term health condition. It is designed to help with the extra costs families face as a result of their child’s needs, and it isn’t means-tested — so your income doesn’t affect eligibility.

You can claim DLA if your child needs more help or supervision than children of the same age without additional needs. DLA can be paid at different rates depending on how much support your child needs, and it has two parts: a care component for daily support and a mobility component if they have difficulty getting around

If your child has a life-limiting condition and is unlikely to live more than six months, there are special rules that mean they may automatically qualify for the highest rate of the care component.

DLA is usually paid monthly and is not taxed. It can also act as a passport to other financial help and services, such as Carer’s Allowance or extra elements in Universal Credit.

When your child turns 16, they usually need to apply for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) instead of DLA.

To apply, follow this link.

At a glance
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a benefit for young people and adults aged 16 and over who need extra help because of a disability or long-term physical or mental health condition. It helps with the extra costs of everyday life and is not means-tested, so your income or savings do not affect eligibility.

Who PIP is for
You may be able to claim PIP if your condition affects your ability to carry out daily living activities or get around, compared with someone of the same age without additional needs. It does not matter whether you are in education, in work, or not working.

What PIP can include
PIP is made up of two components:

• a daily living component for help with things like preparing food, communicating, managing medication, or engaging with other people
• a mobility component if you have difficulty planning or following journeys, or moving around physically

Each component can be paid at either a standard or enhanced rate, depending on how much support you need.

How payments work
PIP is usually paid every four weeks and is not taxed.

Other help linked to PIP
Receiving PIP can help you access other support, such as Carer’s Allowance, the Motability Scheme, or extra elements within Universal Credit.

Moving from DLA to PIP
If a young person is moving from Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to PIP, they will usually be invited to apply after their 16th birthday. This is not an automatic transfer, a new application and assessment are required.

To apply, follow this link.

At a glance
Universal Credit is a benefit that helps with living costs if you’re on a low income or out of work. It can include support for housing, children, disability, and caring responsibilities.

Who Universal Credit is for

You may be able to claim Universal Credit whether you are in work or out of work. How much you receive depends on things like:

• your income and savings
• your housing situation
• whether you have children
• whether you or your child is disabled
• whether you have caring responsibilities

What Universal Credit replaces

Universal Credit brings together several older benefits into one payment, including:

• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Housing Benefit
• Working Tax Credit
• Child Tax Credit

What Universal Credit can include

Universal Credit is made up of different elements, which are added together. These may include:

• a standard allowance for living costs
• a child element if you are responsible for a child
• a disabled child element if your child receives DLA
• a limited capability for work and work-related activity (LCWRA) element if you are unable to work due to a health condition or disability
• a carer element if you care for a disabled person
• a housing element to help with rent

How payments work

Universal Credit is usually paid monthly, into one bank account per household.

If this causes difficulties, you can ask for alternative payment arrangements, such as:

• more frequent payments
• housing costs paid directly to your landlord

Other help linked to Universal Credit

Being on Universal Credit can also help you access other support, such as:

• free school meals
• help with health costs
• Council Tax Reduction

To apply, follow this link.

Carer’s Allowance (CA) is a benefit for people who provide unpaid care to someone with a disability or long-term health condition. It helps with the extra costs and financial pressure that caring can bring.

Carer’s Allowance is not means-tested, so your savings do not affect whether you can claim. However, there are rules about how much you can earn.

Who can claim Carer’s Allowance?

You may be able to claim if:

• you spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone

• the person you care for receives a qualifying disability benefit, such as:

  • the middle or higher rate care component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA), or

  • the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

• you are aged 16 or over

• you are not in full-time education (21 hours a week or more)

• your earnings are below the weekly earnings limit, after tax and allowable expenses

How Carer’s Allowance is paid

Carer’s Allowance is usually paid weekly or every four weeks. It is taxable if your total income reaches the Income Tax threshold.

You can work and still receive Carer’s Allowance, as long as your earnings stay below the weekly limit. If your earnings go over this limit, you will normally lose entitlement.

National Insurance credits

Receiving Carer’s Allowance usually gives you National Insurance credits. These help protect your State Pension and future benefit entitlement.

How Carer’s Allowance affects other benefits

Carer’s Allowance counts as income for means-tested benefits such as Universal Credit and Housing Benefit, which may reduce how much you receive. However, claiming it may also mean you qualify for extra support, such as the carer element of Universal Credit, which can leave you better off overall.

Claiming Carer’s Allowance does not reduce the disability benefits paid to the person you care for. However, it may affect some means-tested premiums they receive, such as the Severe Disability Premium.

How to claim

You can claim Carer’s Allowance online through the government website or request a paper claim form from the Carer’s Allowance Unit. Click here for the online application.

If you live in Bristol, local services can help you understand Carer’s Allowance, make a claim, and check how it may affect your other benefits.

Family Fund gives grants to families raising disabled or seriously ill children and young people.
You do not always need a diagnosis, but your child must have a long-term need or illness.

Family Fund is means-tested, so they look at your household income.

Grants can help pay for things like washing machines, beds, clothing, sensory items, digital devices, or short breaks.

A Disabled Facilities Grant helps pay for changes to your home.

This could include ramps, stairlifts, or adapted bathrooms.

For children, the grant is not means-tested.

You do not usually need a diagnosis, but the need must be linked to disability.

Motability helps with travel if a child or adult gets the higher-rate mobility part of DLA or PIP.

Motability can provide a car, wheelchair-accessible vehicle, scooter, or powered wheelchair.

Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA)
Disabled Students’ Allowance gives extra funding to disabled students in college or university.

It is not means-tested and does not need to be paid back.
It can help pay for equipment, software, or support.

Council Tax Reduction can lower your council tax bill.

You may be able to apply if someone in your household is disabled or if your income is low.

Each council has its own rules.

Disability Grants is not a grant itself.
It is a website that helps you search for many different disability-related grants.

Some grants are means-tested and some are not.

Turn2Us helps you find grants based on your family’s situation.

You do not need a diagnosis to use the tool.

It can show grants for families, carers, and people on a low income.

This grant is for unpaid carers living in Bristol.

It can help with costs that support your wellbeing, such as a short break, activities, or essential items.

You do not need a diagnosis for the person you care for.

The grant is not based on disability benefits, but your caring role must be recognised.

Carers Trust does not give grants directly.

It provides information about local and national grants for carers.

Some grants are for emergencies, short breaks, or wellbeing.

Rules vary depending on the grant.

The Bristol Pink Card adds your child to Bristol City Council’s Children’s Disability Register.

You do not need a diagnosis to apply.

The card can be used at many venues to get free carer entry or concessions.

The CEA Cinema Card allows a disabled person to take someone with them to the cinema for free.

The card costs £6 per year and must be renewed each year.

It can be used at most major UK cinemas.

Discounts for Carers is a website that offers reduced prices on shopping, days out, and services.
You need to register as a carer to access the discounts.

Merlin’s Magic Wand
Merlin’s Magic Wand provides free or low-cost days out for children who need them most.
This includes access to Merlin attractions such as theme parks and aquariums.
Each application is assessed against eligibility criteria.

The Access Card shows venues what access support a person needs.

It uses simple symbols to explain needs, such as needing a carer, extra space, or queue support.

A diagnosis is not always required, but evidence of need is needed.

Many venues use the card to offer free or discounted carer tickets.

If you only need disability access for one venue, you can apply through that venue’s free disability registration scheme instead of completing a full Access Card application.

If you apply for a multi venue card, it costs £15 for three years. More information can be found here.