The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is providing a key benefit worth hundreds of pounds each month to children with behavioral disorders. Recent DWP figures reveal the number of children eligible for Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is set to rise significantly.
Current and Projected Claimant Numbers
According to DWP data, approximately 900,000 children currently receive Disability Living Allowance. However, fresh government projections indicate that this total will surpass one million by 2027. By that time, an estimated 1.03 million young people will be claiming support.
Payment Rates and Frequency
The DLA payment rate ranges from £30.30 to £194.60 per week, depending on the level of help the child requires. This translates to a minimum of £121 every four weeks for claimants. Payments are typically made every four weeks on a Tuesday. If the payment date falls on a bank holiday, claimants usually receive their payment before the holiday, after which normal payment schedules resume.
Expert Concerns
Joe Shalam from the Centre for Social Justice expressed concern over the projections, stating: "These forecasts should ring alarm bells." He warned that young people are increasingly being directed into medical and welfare pathways instead of receiving early support through family, school, and community networks. "The danger is that more children every day are being put on a conveyor belt towards long-term dependency," Shalam added, emphasizing that this is detrimental both for taxpayers and for the children whose potential is being written off before adulthood.
Additional Support
The DWP also highlights that receiving DLA can unlock extra help. For instance, carers who spend at least 35 hours per week caring for a child receiving the middle or highest care rate of DLA may qualify for Carer's Allowance.
Government Response
In defense of the figures, a DWP spokesperson stated that current sickness benefit reforms are projected to deliver savings of nearly £2 billion by the early 2030s.
