MPs are calling on the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to reconsider the three-month qualifying period for Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children with disabilities and serious health conditions.
The issue was raised in a Westminster Hall debate after Labour MP Michelle Welsh highlighted the case of four-year-old Mabel, who was diagnosed with kidney cancer. Her case was used to illustrate the financial pressures families can face immediately after a serious diagnosis, while the current DLA rules can require them to meet a qualifying period before support begins.
DLA is intended to help families meet the additional costs associated with caring for a disabled child. The benefit can provide between £30.30 and £194.60 a week, depending on the level of support required.
Rule
Under the current system, a child generally needs to have had difficulties with their care or mobility for at least three months and be expected to have those difficulties for at least another six months.
This qualifying period has become a point of concern for some MPs and families dealing with serious illnesses. Critics argue that additional costs can arise as soon as a child becomes seriously ill, rather than after a fixed period.
Michelle Welsh raised the issue during the parliamentary debate, arguing that the financial consequences of a cancer diagnosis can begin immediately.
The case of Mabel was presented as an example. Her mother, Rachael, reportedly had to complete a lengthy questionnaire while also dealing with her daughter’s treatment and the financial consequences of her illness.
Case
Mabel was four when she was diagnosed with kidney cancer. According to the account presented in Parliament, her treatment involved two major operations and a course of chemotherapy.
Her family’s experience was cited by Welsh as an example of why some families may struggle with the existing qualifying period. Caring for a seriously ill child can involve additional travel, equipment, household costs and time away from work, potentially creating financial pressure before benefit support becomes available.
Welsh told MPs: “Let me be clear: the financial impact of cancer does not begin after three months. It is instant.”
After six difficult months of treatment, Mabel’s family received the news that she was free of cancer.
Response
DWP minister Lilian Greenwood acknowledged the difficulties experienced by families but defended the existing qualifying period.
She said the rule provides “a sensible division between short and long-term disability”. The government has not announced plans to abolish the three-month requirement.
Greenwood confirmed that there are currently “no current plans to remove the three-month qualifying period”.
The response means families should continue to follow the existing DLA rules unless and until the government announces a change.
Information about DLA for children is available through the official GOV.UK DLA guidance.
Payments
DLA for children is made up of care and mobility components. The amount depends on the child’s needs and the extent to which they require additional help.
The figures provided in the debate range from £30.30 to £194.60 per week. At the highest weekly rate, the benefit could amount to more than £10,000 over a full year.
DLA is not intended to replace household income. Instead, it is designed to help with the extra costs associated with a child’s disability or health condition.
Families can use the official DLA rates information to check the applicable payment levels.
Exceptions
There are important exceptions to the normal qualifying rules.
Children who are terminally ill can access DLA under special rules, allowing eligible families to receive support without going through the standard waiting period. The special rules are intended for children whose circumstances meet the relevant terminal illness criteria.
DLA can also continue to be paid when a child is in hospital, subject to the applicable rules. This can be significant for families whose children require extended treatment or hospital stays.
Parents should therefore check their circumstances carefully rather than assuming that the standard three-month rule applies in every situation.
Processing
The DWP has also taken steps to address the processing of claims. More than 100 additional case managers have reportedly been recruited to help speed up decisions.
This is separate from the qualifying period itself. Recruiting additional staff may help reduce delays in processing applications, but it does not remove the underlying requirement that a child generally must satisfy the relevant qualifying conditions.
Families dealing with a serious diagnosis may therefore face two separate issues: whether the child meets the qualifying rules and how quickly an application can be assessed.
Reform
The debate has increased parliamentary pressure for a review of the rules, particularly in cases involving serious and potentially life-threatening childhood illnesses.
For now, however, the DWP’s position remains that there are no plans to remove the three-month qualifying period. The current system continues to distinguish between short-term difficulties and conditions expected to have a longer-term impact.
For families, the key point is that DLA eligibility depends on the child’s care or mobility needs and the relevant qualifying conditions, rather than simply the name of a diagnosis. While MPs are seeking changes to the rules, no abolition of the three-month qualifying period has been announced. Families should continue to use the current DWP guidance when considering a claim and check whether any special rules or exceptions apply to their circumstances.
