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    Child DLA and Blue Badge

    Written by Billy Kukadia · Last reviewed 23 October 2026

    Illustrative image: Billy Kukadia listening to an older woman with a plain folder at home

    In short

    Child DLA is for under-16s with walking difficulties or who need much more looking after than other children of the same age.

    Return a requested DLA pack within 6 weeks to keep the date you called as the claim start date.

    Blue Badge applications in England go through GOV.UK; some people qualify automatically and others are assessed by the council.

    What you need

    Keep the DLA pack, or the form you printed online, with your notes. If you asked for the pack by phone, write down the date you called. Start with examples of your child's walking difficulties or the looking after they need, rather than trying to make the account sound official.

    For a Blue Badge, look at the official eligibility page alongside any DLA or PIP information you already have. Child DLA and Blue Badge are different applications. Giving each its own set of papers can help you avoid carrying an answer from one form into the other without checking it.

    Step by step

    1. Choose the right starting point

      For Child DLA, call 0800 121 4600 for a claim form or print it from the official page. It covers children under 16 who have walking difficulties or need much more looking after than children of the same age. Describe your child's experience in ordinary words.

    2. Keep the DLA date visible

      Keep the date you called with the pack as you work through it. Write the 6-week date on the front of the pack.

    3. Read the letter about turning 16

      At 16, your child will be invited to claim PIP. DLA continues until the decision if they apply by the date in the letter. Put that letter with the current benefit papers and make a separate note of its date for applying. Follow the letter rather than assuming the change happens without an application.

    4. Check the Blue Badge route

      Compare your award letter with the automatic routes in the key dates box. If none applies, read about council assessment on the official page before starting.

    5. Apply, then keep the decision

      Apply through GOV.UK. Allow time for council assessment using the summary above. Keep the application and decision together. If you are turned down, there is no formal appeal, but you can ask the council to reconsider or reapply if things change.

    Free help

    The official pages below explain the forms and application routes. The Child DLA helpline is a way to request the claim form. For Blue Badge, start with the GOV.UK eligibility and application pages, keeping the England guidance separate from the Child DLA papers.

    • Child DLA claim form

      0800 121 4600

      Request a pack, or print the form from GOV.UK.

    How we can help, and what we can't

    We can listen to your description, help organise the forms and write down your account for you to check and sign. We cannot assess eligibility, provide a medical assessment or guarantee approval. Our application and form completion support page explains how we work alongside you while the application remains yours. Application and form completion support.