Child DLA Appointee: Who Can Claim on a Child's Behalf

Who Claims Child DLA for a Child Under 16

A child under 16 cannot submit a DLA claim or receive payments themselves. The claim must be made by an adult with parental responsibility or someone who looks after the child as a parent.

This includes birth parents, step-parents, legal guardians, foster carers, grandparents raising the child, and older siblings acting in a parental role. The person making the claim must be at least 16 years old. A guardian or relative acting as a parent must be 18 or older.

The adult who makes the claim signs the DLA1 Child form's declaration and confirms the information is complete and correct. Someone else can help fill in the form — a partner, grandparent, or support worker — but the claimant should sign it.

When a Formal Appointee Is Needed

For most child DLA claims, no formal appointeeship is required. The parent or carer claims naturally as part of their parental role.

Child DLA is claimed by the adult who looks after the child as a parent. DWP appointeeship is for a claimant who cannot manage their own affairs because they are mentally incapable or severely disabled.

If you're the child's parent and live with them, you don't need to apply for appointeeship. You claim as their parent.

What Changes at 16: The PIP Transition

At 16, the young person must apply for Personal Independence Payment (PIP). DWP sends the invitation shortly after their birthday in most cases; for an award under the special rules, it is sent about 20 weeks before the DLA award ends.

If the young person can manage their own benefits, they handle the PIP claim themselves. If they are severely disabled and cannot manage their benefits, an adult may apply to become their appointee once they turn 16.

The DWP conducts an interview to establish appointeeship. This is a separate process from any Court of Protection deputyship or lasting power of attorney, though those can run alongside it.

The young person must apply by the date in the invitation letter. If they apply by then, DLA payments continue until the PIP claim is assessed. If they do not, DLA payments stop.

Shared Care and Separated Parents

When parents are separated, only one parent can claim child DLA. The benefit is paid to the person who claims, regardless of who the child lives with most.

If care is genuinely shared, the parents need to agree between themselves who will claim. DWP does not split the payment. Where there's a dispute, DWP decides based on who provides the majority of care.

The parent who claims is responsible for reporting any changes in the child's living arrangements.

Practical Steps

If you're a parent claiming child DLA, you simply fill in the form and sign it. No extra paperwork is needed to establish your right to claim.

If you're a kinship carer or foster carer without formal parental responsibility, contact the DLA helpline on 0800 121 4600 to confirm what documentation they need from you.

Once your child turns 16, contact the PIP enquiry line to ask about becoming their appointee if they are severely disabled and cannot manage their benefits.

Our Child DLA Claim Guide walks through the entire claim process, including a PIP transition roadmap with appointee guidance for families preparing for the switch at 16.

See more United Kingdom guides →