Not sure if your child's difficulties count for DLA?
Most NI parents don't claim — not because their child doesn't need support, but because nobody explained what DLA actually looks at. Answer five quick questions and find out what to check next.
The form is 40 pages. Nobody tells you where to start.
Most NI parents don't even know if their child's difficulties are relevant. The ones who do still struggle with what to write. This is where it starts.
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"I don't think my child is disabled enough." DLA isn't about a diagnosis. It's about the extra care and supervision your child needs compared to a child the same age without a disability.
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"I don't know what to write." The DLA1 form uses clinical language. Parents end up describing a good day, or writing too little — because nobody showed them what the form is actually asking.
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"I Googled it and got English advice." Northern Ireland has its own rules, its own forms, and its own assessment process. DWP guidance doesn't apply here.
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"I've been meaning to apply for months." The longer you wait, the longer you wait to be backdated. There's no penalty for applying — but there's a cost to not starting.
Quick check
Could DLA be worth exploring for your child?
Five questions. Two minutes. No login, no email, nothing stored. Based on the published NI criteria from nidirect.
Question 1 of 5
How old is your child?
DLA for children applies from 3 months old (for the care component) or from age 3 (if mobility difficulties are involved). It runs until age 16.
Question 2 of 5
Does your child need more looking after than a child the same age without a disability?
This could include help with eating, washing, dressing, toileting, communication, behaviour management, or needing someone to watch over them more than usual.
Question 3 of 5
Does your child need supervision or watching that other children their age don't?
For example: to prevent danger, to manage behaviour, to avoid harm to themselves or others, or because they need someone nearby even when other children would be safe on their own.
Question 4 of 5
Does your child have difficulty getting around outdoors, or need more help than usual when walking?
This includes needing guidance or supervision outdoors, difficulty walking reasonable distances, or being unable to walk at all. Mobility is assessed from age 3 upwards.
Question 5 of 5
Have these difficulties lasted, or are they expected to last, at least 3 months?
DLA is for ongoing needs. If your child has a new diagnosis or you're waiting for one, that's okay — the key question is whether the difficulties are expected to continue.
This looks like it may be worth exploring.
Based on your answers and the published NI criteria, your child's difficulties may be relevant to Disability Living Allowance. Here's what to look at next.
What to explore
The care component looks at extra help your child needs with day-to-day tasks, and any supervision they need to keep safe — during the day, at night, or both.
Mobility
The mobility component looks at whether your child (age 3+) needs help or guidance getting around outdoors. This is assessed separately from care.
What to gather
Start collecting examples of a difficult day — what your child needs help with, how often, and what happens if that help isn't there. Letters from school, health visitors, or HSC professionals are useful too.
Approaching 16?
At 16, your child's DLA will need to transition to PIP. DfC will write to you about this. The criteria and form are different — our Transition Toolkit covers exactly what changes.
This is not a legal assessment and does not guarantee entitlement. It is based on published criteria from nidirect.gov.uk and is intended to help you understand what may be worth exploring. For formal advice, contact your local advice centre or the Disability Living Allowance helpline.
It's not clear-cut — but that doesn't mean no.
Your answers suggest your child's situation may or may not meet the published criteria. Many parents feel unsure at this stage. The free guide explains what DLA actually looks at and helps you think it through properly.
What to do next
Read through the free guide — it covers the three most common reasons NI parents underestimate their child's needs on the DLA form, and explains exactly what "extra care" means in practice.
Worth knowing
There is no penalty for applying and being turned down. Many families who assumed they wouldn't qualify were awarded DLA once they described their child's worst days, not their best.
This is not a legal assessment and does not guarantee entitlement. It is based on published criteria from nidirect.gov.uk. For formal advice, contact your local advice centre.
Your child may be moving toward PIP at 16.
At 16, child DLA ends and your child will need to transition to Personal Independence Payment (PIP). The criteria, the form, and the assessment are all different.
What happens
DfC will write to your child around 15½ inviting them to apply for PIP. If they already receive DLA, payments continue until a PIP decision is made — but the PIP form is completely different.
What to do now
The Transition Toolkit covers exactly what changes, what to keep, what to rewrite, and how the PIP form's ten daily living activities work compared to DLA.
This is not a legal assessment. It is based on published criteria from nidirect.gov.uk. For formal advice, contact your local advice centre.
DLA may not be the right fit right now.
Based on your answers, the published criteria for child DLA may not be relevant at this stage. That said, situations change — and there may be other support available.
Other support
Even if DLA isn't relevant now, your child may still benefit from other support — including help through school, the Education Authority, or your local HSC Trust. The free guide covers what other options exist in Northern Ireland.
If things change
If your child's needs increase or a new difficulty develops that lasts more than 3 months, it may be worth coming back and checking again.
This is not a legal assessment. Situations change and this screener cannot account for every circumstance. For formal advice, contact your local advice centre.
Next steps
When you're ready to start the form
The screener helps you understand whether DLA might be relevant. These guides help you fill in the form — in plain English, written specifically for Northern Ireland.
Free
Free Child DLA Guide
A short guide covering the three wording mistakes that hide in most NI refusals, what the form is actually asking, and how to describe a bad day clearly.
136 example answers for every section of the DLA1 form. Written in plain English, in the language DfC assessors actually look for. Covers care, supervision, and mobility.
136 condition-specific example answers
Covers ADHD, autism, anxiety, learning disability, and more
Whether you're just wondering, ready to apply, or reapplying after a refusal.
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"Is my child eligible?"
You're unsure whether your child's difficulties count. The screener and free guide help you understand what DLA actually looks at.
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"I have the form but I'm stuck."
You've requested DLA1 but the questions are confusing. The Answer Bank gives you 136 worked examples to help you describe your child's needs clearly.
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"We were refused or got low rate."
Refusals often come down to wording, not need. The guides help you understand what the decision-maker is looking for — so your reapplication is stronger.
Why NI matters
Northern Ireland has its own system
Most DLA advice online is written for England and Wales. Here's what's different.
Northern Ireland
DLA is administered by the Department for Communities (DfC). Assessments are often by telephone. HSC Trust letters are the standard supporting evidence.
England & Wales
DLA is run by DWP. Processes, assessment formats, and supporting evidence expectations can differ. Guidance written for DWP doesn't always apply in NI.
NI appeals
Appeals go through the Appeals Service in Northern Ireland. The process, forms (NOA1), and timeline are different from the SSCS1 process used in England.
NI education support
Children in NI have Statements of SEN (not EHCPs). Evidence from the Education Authority can strengthen a DLA application alongside HSC Trust reports.
Common questions
Before you decide
Does the screener store any of my answers?
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No. Nothing is stored, saved, or sent anywhere. Your answers exist only on your device while you're looking at the page. When you close it, they're gone.
Does the screener tell me if my child will get DLA?
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No. It helps you understand whether the published criteria may be relevant to your child's situation. Only DfC can make an award decision. This is a starting point, not a determination.
My child doesn't have a diagnosis yet. Can I still apply?
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Yes. DLA is about your child's needs, not their diagnosis. Many children are awarded DLA before or without a formal diagnosis, as long as the extra care they need is clearly described.
What's the difference between the free guide and the Answer Bank?
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The free guide explains how DLA works and what common mistakes to avoid. The Answer Bank is a full form-filling companion — 136 example answers covering every section of the DLA1 form, organised by condition and activity.
Is this written for Northern Ireland specifically?
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Yes. Every guide, every example, every piece of terminology uses DfC, HSC Trusts, and NI processes. This is not generic UK advice rebranded. It's written by an NI parent for NI families.
What if my child is turning 16 soon?
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At 16, child DLA transitions to PIP. The criteria and the form change. Our DLA to PIP Transition Toolkit covers exactly what's different and how to prepare. The screener will flag this if it's relevant to your situation.
Still not sure? Start here.
The screener takes two minutes and stores nothing. It's the simplest way to find out if DLA is worth looking into for your child.