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Benefits calculator

My Money Steps›My advice›Benefits calculator›Your children
Step 2 of 8

Your children

To work out the support you can get with the costs of raising your kids, we need to know about the children living with you.

Are you expecting a new child?
Yes
No
Do you have any children living in your household?

This means children of any age who usually live in your home, whether or not they rely on you for money.

Yes
No
How to answer

Select "Yes" if any of your children live with you most of the time. This includes stepchildren, adopted or foster children, and grown-up children who live at home, even if they pay rent or have their own money.

Include children who:

  • Are under 16
  • Are over 16 and live with you, even if they work, claim benefits, or pay you rent
  • Are adults who live with you but don't rely on you for money

Do not include children who:

  • Are over 16 and spend most of the year living somewhere else to study (like at college or university)
  • Are in hospital or a care home for a year or more
  • Are in prison
  • Are in the armed forces and away on duty
  • Are just visiting or staying for a short time
  • Only use your address for post but don't actually live with you

Count all children who treat your home as the main place they live.

How to answer

You need to include all children who usually live with you. This includes stepchildren, adopted or foster children, and grown-up children who live at home, even if they pay rent or have their own money.

Include children who:

  • Are under 16
  • Are over 16 and live with you, even if they work, claim benefits, or pay you rent
  • Are adults who live with you but don't rely on you for money

Do not include children who:

  • Are over 16 and spend most of the year living somewhere else to study (like at college or university)
  • Are in hospital or a care home for a year or more
  • Are in prison
  • Are in the armed forces and away on duty
  • Are just visiting or staying for a short time
  • Only use your address for post but don't actually live with you
Child #1

For children under one enter their age as 0.

Child gender

We need to know your child's gender to calculate the number of bedrooms you can include in your benefits application.

Male
Female
Does your child have any disability?

Your child needs much more looking after than a child of the same age or they have disability living allowance.

Yes
No
Child #2

For children under one enter their age as 0.

Child gender

We need to know your child's gender to calculate the number of bedrooms you can include in your benefits application.

Male
Female
Does your child have any disability?

Your child needs much more looking after than a child of the same age or they have disability living allowance.

Yes
No
Disability Living Allowance - Care

Choose the level of care you need. If you already receive this benefit, your care level is listed on the DWP decision letter. Otherwise, select the option that best describes your situation.

No award
Lowest rate - £30.30 per week
Middle rate - £76.70 per week
Highest rate - £114.60 per week
How to answer

Disability Living Allowance (Child Disability Payment in Scotland) helps you with the extra cost of looking after someone who requires more support than a person without a disability or who finds it difficult to walk.

Care

The amount they receive depends on how much care they need:

  • Lowest rate: They need help part of the day.
  • Middle rate: They need help often, constant supervision during the day, supervision at night, or someone to help when they're having dialysis.
  • Highest rate: They need help or supervision all day and night, they are certified as seriously visually impaired or blind, or they're very ill.
Disability Living Allowance - Mobility

Select the level of assistance. If receiving this benefit, the level of care can be found on the DWP decision letter. If not, please answer this question as best as possible.

No award
Lower rate - £30.30 per week
Higher rate - £80.00 per week
How to answer

Disability Living Allowance (Child Disability Payment in Scotland) helps you with the extra cost of looking after someone who requires more support than a person without a disability or who finds it difficult to walk.

Mobility

The amount they receive depends on how much help they need with going out or moving around:

  • Lower rate: They can walk but need help or supervision outside.
  • Higher rate: They cannot walk, can only walk a bit without severe discomfort, could become seriously ill if they try to walk, or they're blind or seriously visually impaired.

Age rules

The mobility element your child can get also depends on their age:

  • Under 3 years: They can't get the mobility part yet (only the care part).
  • Age 3 or 4: They can only get the higher rate if walking is unsafe or impossible for them.
  • Age 5 and over: They can get either the lower or higher rate, depending on how much help they need with walking or moving around.

When a child turns 3 or 5, their Disability Living Allowance can change automatically to match the new age band.

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