Child Disability Payment Scotland: Rates, Eligibility and How to Apply

Child Disability Payment (CDP) is Social Security Scotland's payment for disabled children — you apply before they turn 16, and it can be paid until they are 18 — whose condition creates additional care or mobility needs. It replaced Disability Living Allowance for Children (DLA for Children) in Scotland and is one of the most important gateway benefits for families of disabled children — because receiving CDP unlocks Carer Support Payment for the parent who cares for the child.

2026 rates

CDP has two components — care and mobility — and a child can receive both simultaneously.

Care component

Mobility component

The care component can be paid from 3 months old (from birth if the child is terminally ill). The mobility component starts at age 3 for the higher rate and age 5 for the lower rate.

Who qualifies?

A child qualifies for CDP if:

1. They have a physical or mental health condition or disability
2. It causes additional care or mobility needs compared to a child of the same age without the condition
3. The condition has lasted or is expected to last at least 3 months
4. They are likely to need that support for at least 6 months
5. They are under 16 when you apply and live in Scotland

There is no diagnosis requirement. CDP is assessed on functional need, not on the name of the condition.

Conditions that commonly qualify

CDP can be awarded for any condition that creates additional care or mobility needs. Children with the following conditions frequently qualify, though the award depends on the individual assessment:

• Autism spectrum condition (ASC/ASD)
• ADHD with significant functional impact
• Cerebral palsy and other physical conditions
• Epilepsy with frequent seizures or post-ictal supervision needs
• Severe anxiety, OCD or other mental health conditions
• Learning disabilities
• Type 1 diabetes requiring frequent monitoring and intervention
• Rare conditions, chromosomal conditions, genetic conditions

How to apply

Applications are made to Social Security Scotland.

• Online: mygov.scot/child-disability-payment
• Phone: 0800 182 2222 (free, Monday–Friday 8am–5pm)
• Paper form: available on request

1. 1

   Gather evidence before you start

   Collect any medical letters, school reports, therapy assessments, and Educational Psychology reports related to your child's condition. You don't need to submit all of it with the application — Social Security Scotland will ask for evidence after receiving the initial form — but having it ready speeds up the process.
2. 2

   Complete the application

   The form asks about your child's daily needs across several areas: mobility, personal care, communication, managing daily activities, engaging socially. Be specific and honest about the worst days, not the best days.
3. 3

   Attend a consultation if requested

   Social Security Scotland may request a consultation with a health professional — either a phone call, video call, or home visit. This is to clarify details from the application. It's not an adversarial assessment — the process is designed to be less stressful than the DWP equivalent.
4. 4

   Receive a decision

   You'll receive a letter explaining the outcome, including the component(s) and rate(s) awarded. Social Security Scotland can tell you where your application has got to — call 0800 182 2222.

CDP as a gateway to other support

Receiving CDP unlocks several other payments and services:

Challenging a decision

If you disagree with the CDP decision — whether you were refused an award, received a lower rate than expected, or an award was shorter than expected — you can request a redetermination within 42 calendar days (6 weeks) of being told the decision — longer than the 31 days most Scottish benefits allow. A different Social Security Scotland decision maker reviews the case from scratch.

If the redetermination is still unsatisfactory, you can appeal to the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Social Security Chamber), which is independent of Social Security Scotland. The tribunal process is free and most families don't need legal representation — though welfare rights organisations such as Citizens Advice Scotland can help you prepare.

Moving to Adult Disability Payment between 16 and 18

CDP does not stop at 16. Social Security Scotland pays it until the young person is 18. When the child turns 16, Social Security Scotland writes to the parent, guardian or appointee to ask whether the young person can manage their own payments. The young person can choose to apply for Adult Disability Payment (ADP), which uses different criteria, from 13 weeks before they turn 16 — or stay on CDP until 18. A successful ADP award ends CDP, and moving to ADP can affect other benefits or services, so get advice from Citizens Advice or your council's advice service before choosing.

Related: ASN Scotland parents' guide · Carer Support Payment · Coordinated Support Plan