What information must you include in your child's DLA Review

Mia Hughes
Nov 3
3 min read

A little girl with downs syndrome having swing therapy with a physio holding her arms out wide as she swings back and forth

When completing a Disability Living Allowance (DLA) Review for your child, it’s crucial to give a clear, detailed picture of your child’s needs as they are now — not just their diagnosis. The goal is to help the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) understand how your child’s daily life is affected compared to other children of the same age. Here's what’s important to include:

🧠 1. Updated Information About Your Child’s Condition

Any changes or developments in your child’s condition since the last claim or review (improvements, worsening, new diagnoses, etc.).
Recent medical reports or letters from professionals (GP, paediatrician, speech therapist, psychologist, etc.).
Mention any new treatments, therapies, or medications — and how they affect your child (positively or negatively).

🧩 2. Detailed Description of Care Needs

Be specific about what help your child needs, how often, and why. Include examples for:

Personal care: washing, dressing, toileting, feeding, etc.
Supervision: keeping them safe (e.g. around traffic, choking risks, self-harm, wandering).
Communication: understanding instructions, expressing needs, needing prompts or repetition.
Mobility: walking distances, needing help with stairs, fatigue, coordination issues.
Night-time needs: waking, bedwetting, seizures, reassurance, monitoring, etc.

Tip: Write about how much longer things take compared to other children their age and how much extra attention or supervision is needed.

🕒 3. Frequency and Duration

DWP looks at how often help is needed and how long it takes:

Note how many times a day you provide help (morning routine, mealtimes, bedtime, etc.).
Mention if care is constant, regular, or only needed at specific times.
Provide a detailed picture of your child's day time and night time needs. Remember "night time" begins when all the adults in home have gone to bed

💬 4. Examples From Daily Life

Use real-life examples because they give real time accounts of your child's struggles and demonstrate the level of attention or supervision that they need. Remember "attention" is all about linking the attention that your child needs to each of the bodily functions assessed for DLA. "Supervision" is all about liking the level of supervision that your child needs to avoiding danger.":

“When getting dressed, I have to tell her each step and help her physically with buttons because she gets overwhelmed and cries if I try to rush.”

“He needs me to stay with him at all times outside because he has no awareness of danger and will run into the road.”

This shows the real impact rather than just listing symptoms.

👩‍⚕️ 5. Supporting Evidence

Attach or reference:

Letters or reports from health professionals, SENCOs, therapists, etc.
School or nursery reports describing additional support.
Care plans, EHCPs, or specialist assessments if available.

💭 6. Describe Good and Bad Days

Explain fluctuations:

How often does your child have “bad days” or “good days”?
What’s a bad day like — and how much help do they need?

Be clear that occasional good days don’t cancel out ongoing difficulties. Sometimes it's not even a case of "good days and bad days" but rather "bad days and worse days." Ask those closest to your child outside of the immediate family or medical professionals who know them well, which they feel is the case, based on what they have observed. What you may label as a "good day" may in fact be a "bad day" in the eyes of others.

🚸 7. Compare to a Child of the Same Age

The DWP assesses extra needs — not just needs that are typical for the age, so explain how your child’s needs differ from other children:

“Most 7-year-olds can play safely in the garden, but I have to be outside with him constantly because he climbs and has no sense of danger.”

⚠️ 8. Be Honest and Consistent

Don’t underplay difficulties — but don’t exaggerate either.
Don't write from the perspective of what happens on their worst days.
If your child’s needs vary, describe the full range honestly.
Be consistent with information across all sections and any evidence you include.

If you would like any help with your DLA application or renewal, please contact maria@benefitiaforms.co.uk or visit my website benefitiaforms.co.uk for further information.