Every Pound Counts - Children, young people and their carers

If you care for a child who needs additional support because of long term ill-health or disability you may be able to claim extra benefits and tax credits. Many families miss out because they do not know what extra financial help they can claim. This includes families caring for children who have emotional and behavioural problems, long-term illnesses (such as asthma and eczema), developmental delay or other learning disability.

The main benefit you may be able to claim is called Disability Living Allowance (DLA). DLA is a tax-free benefit which can be worth more than £5,000 a year. It is paid to help meet the extra cost of bringing up a child with long-term additional support needs.

What about other benefits?

No benefit or tax credit you are getting will go down because you get DLA, in fact they may go up.

In fact if you get DLA other benefits you receive (such as Income Support, Tax Credits, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit) may increase. If you do not already receive these benefits, you may become entitled to claim because DLA has been awarded.

If you are a carer you may also be able to get other benefits such as Carer's Allowance.

Contact us now for free advice

The Council is offering full benefit checks for all children and young people with additional support needs and their carers living in Lambeth.

Contact Every Pound Counts to talk to an experienced benefits adviser or make an appointment to receive face to face advice about DLA and other benefits you may be able to claim. They can help you complete the claim form, tell you how much you should be awarded and check whether there are any other benefits you may be able to claim.

• By phone and textphone
  Every Pound Counts can be contacted by phone and textphone on 020 7926 5555 Mondays - Fridays 9am - 5pm
• By email
  For advice on tax credits, pensions, housing benefits and Council Tax and other benefits, you can email us at: everypoundcounts@lambeth.gov.uk.
  When you email us please tell us as much as possible about your benefit query and where possible provide a contact number we can call you.
• In person
  We are happy to arrange face-to-face appointments.