The mobility component of DLA is paid in respect of an applicant's difficulties with walking. This can include physical problems, behavioural problems and the requirement for supervision whilst walking. For children, though the care component of DLA can be paid from birth, the mobility component can only be paid from the age of three years. Even at age three, only the higher rate can be paid - the lower rate will only be paid from the age of five. The reasoning behind this is that all babies and very young children will experience problems with walking and will only be crawling or toddling for the first couple of years. The age rules regarding the mobility component of DLA are not discretionary and it would not be worth pursuing a claim for the higher rate mobility component for a child prior to the age of three as it would not be allowable under current legislation.  

The claim form is structured like the benefit itself in that the first section covers the mobility component and the second section covers the care component. The questions most relevant to an award of the high rate mobility component are Part 6: Walking Outdoors, Part 7: If the child needs someone with them when they are outdoors and Part 8: Someone keeping an eye on the child. There is not a great deal of space available on the form to expand on any answers you give, so you may wish to continue your answers on a separate sheet of paper. If this is the case, do ensure that the extra sheets include your child's details, such as their name and date of birth, so they can be matched to the claim form if they become separated.

Apart from the extra monetary value of the higher rate mobility component (it is currently £49.85 per week in comparison to the lower rate of £18.95 per week) there are a number of other advantages associated with this benefit. It will, for example, give the parents of a child who receives it automatic entitlement to a Disabled Persons Parking Badge (often known as a Blue Badge) if they drive. This allows the family to park in disabled parking bays and in some other normally restricted areas. Parents whose child is awarded the higher rate of mobility can also take advantage of the Motability scheme, in which the mobility component of DLA is exchanged for the use of a car.