The UK Government is committed to supporting disabled children, and recognises the additional costs that are associated with disability. The disabled child addition in Universal Credit exists to provide further support for low-income families with a disabled child, alongside other benefits like Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
The UK Government’s aim in formulating Universal Credit policy for families with disabled children is to simplify previous provision, and align the lower disabled child addition with that for adults. This means that, for this group, the extra amounts payable for disability are aligned when the young person claims benefit in their own right.
This will also allow the UK Government to refocus resources on children and adults with the most severe disabilities. Higher disabled child addition is the same under Universal Credit as it is on existing benefits, and the UK Government is extending eligibility for this higher rate to children who are registered blind.
It is important to note that, as a result of the UK Government’s managed migration policy, nobody, including households with disabled children, will have a reduced benefit entitlement at the point that they move over to Universal Credit. Moreover, families with disabled children will also be entitled to support under DLA, which also helps with the extra costs of looking after a disabled child.