Parents who have children with autism or ADHD can claim up to £16,157 from DWP

UK families with children who have autism or ADHD can claim up to £16,157 in benefits.

Parents of children living with autism or ADHD can access £16,157 inbenefits and additional support. Six payments totalling nearly £17,000 have been revealed, which parents can utilise if their children are living with autism or ADHD.

ADHD is a disorder characterised by behavioural analysis, those with ADHD exhibit a consistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity–impulsivity that hampers daily functioning and/or development. In the UK, a research survey involving 10,438 children aged between 5 and 15 years discovered that 3.62% of boys and 0.85% of girls were diagnosed with ADHD.

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Autistic individuals may struggle with communication and interaction with others or find it challenging to comprehend how others think or feel. They might find elements such as bright lights or loud noises overwhelming, stressful or uncomfortable, according to the NHS.

Further information from the NHS states that they could become anxious or distressed about unfamiliar situations and social events, or may take longer to process information. They may also repeatedly do or think the same things, reports Birmingham Live.

Here are the six payments, worth almost £17,000, that parents can claim if their children have autism or ADHD.

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) - £9,700

DLA consists of two parts, the 'care component' and the 'mobility component'. To qualify for DLA, you must be eligible for at least one of the components.

The amount of DLA you receive depends on how your disability or health condition impacts you. You might be entitled to the care component of DLA if you:

• need help with things like washing, dressing, eating, using the toilet or communicating your needs
• need supervision to avoid putting yourself or others in danger
• need someone with you when you’re on dialysis
• cannot prepare a cooked main meal

You can claim this part if no one is actually providing the care you need, or if you live alone.

Carer's Allowance - £4,331

You could receive £83.30 a week if you care for someone for at least 35 hours a week and they are in receipt of certain benefits. You don't have to be related to, or live with, the person you care for.

There's no additional payment if you care for more than one person. If another person also cares for the same individual as you, only one of you can claim Carer's Allowance. You can choose to be paid weekly in advance or every 4 weeks.

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Extra Tax-Free Childcare - £2,000

Tax-Free Childcare is a government initiative that assists with childcare costs up to a maximum of £2,000 per eligible child each year (£4,000 if your child is disabled). The scheme covers the whole of the UK, including England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

The scheme is available to all parents of children under 12 (or under 17 if disabled). To qualify for the Tax-free Childcare Scheme, you must be working (and if you have a partner, they must also be working), and you must not be receiving any support through Universal Credit.

Most parents who are eligible for Universal Credit can save more money using the childcare elements of this benefit instead of using Tax-Free Childcare. Typically, both partners in a couple must be employed or self-employed, each earning at least £2,539 (2025/26) every three months.

However, recent changes allow newly self-employed individuals to have start-up periods where this income threshold doesn't need to be met, or they can use an average over the tax year.

Save a third on train travel - £126

The Disabled Persons Railcard offers a third off rail fares across Britain, allowing regular users to pocket around £126 annually. The card is priced at £14.50 a year for young persons aged five to 15.

While the card doesn't slash child fares, it does permit one person accompanying the cardholder to enjoy a third off most rail fares, meaning a parent can reap the savings.

Family Fund

Family Fund determines your family's eligibility for a grant based on your income and the impact of disability on your child or young person. Submitting through an online application form is the fastest and simplest way to apply.

Online applications are also processed quicker, so you could receive your grant decision sooner. Please be aware that access to the online application form is only possible when there is grant funding available for your country of residence. Currently, the application form is closed to new applicants in Wales.

Local Grants

Both the government and local charities offer financial assistance for those in need, which doesn't require repayment. Turn2Us provides an online tool that checks your eligibility for more than 1,400 grants.

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