There are a number of benefits you may be eligible for if you, or someone you care for, is disabled or has a long-term illness.
Support for children with disabilities
Being a kinship carer can be challenging. When a child you care for has a disability or special educational needs, you may need extra support.
This advice applies to: England and Wales
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11% of children in the UK have a disability
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47% of kinship children have a special educational need or disability (Kinship's Annual Survey 2023)
Looking after a child with a disability or special education needs can be challenging but rewarding. And at times it may feel overwhelming. But you are not alone.
In our Forgotten report (2024), nearly half (47%) of children cared for by those who responded were reported to have a special educational need or disability.
Understanding what support, you’re entitled to, and how to access it, will help you to meet the child’s needs and give them the best quality of life you can.
The Equality Act 2010 defines a disability as having a physical and/or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on a person’s ability to carry out their day-to-day activities.
Rights for children with disabilities
A child is considered to have special educational needs if they experience significantly greater difficulty in learning than others of the same age. Or they have a disability that prevents, or hinders, them from making use of educational facilities that are generally provided for others of the same age. Children may experience difficulties with schoolwork, communication or behaviour.
Councils, early years and educational settings have a duty to provide equal access to education and services for disabled children. It is against the law for any organisation to discriminate against a child on the grounds of their disability.
Support from your local council
Under the Children Act 1989, your local council has a duty to assess if your family situation is suitable for social care. If you care for a disabled child, you can request a needs assessment from your local council to find out if your child is eligible for social care.
Your local council can provide help with respite services, care at home, some aids and adaptations, and financial help.
Local Offer
All local councils provide a Local Offer for children with disabilities. To find out what they offer, search for local offer and the name of your council in a search engine like Google – for example, ‘Local Offer Southwark’.
This service can signpost suitable childcare settings in your area who can help you meet the needs of the child you care for. Your council can also put you in touch with specialist support. Search for SEND or local offer on your local council’s website to find the right service for your child.
Education, health and care plans (EHC or EHCP)
If your child’s needs are very complex, the school may not be able to fully address them. In this case, your child may be eligible for an education, health and care plan. An EHC plan identifies educational, health and social needs and sets out the additional support needed to meet those needs.
Either you or the school can request an EHC plan assessment from your local authority to begin the process. An EHC plan may include financial help to pay for any adjustments or extra support your child needs at school.
Direct payments
If your child gets help from social services, you can apply for direct payments. These payments let you choose and buy the services you need yourself, instead of getting them from your council. Find out how to apply for direct payments on GOV.UK.
Moving from children’s social care to adult’s social care
Services for children and young people who have a long-term health condition, or a disability, are provided by child health and social care services, until they turn 18.
From 18, these services are usually provided by adult services. There is a transition period from 16 to 18 years old, which should involve all the services that support the young person.
These include:
- health and social care
- mental health
- education
- work
- housing
- financial benefits
The transition phase should be a gradual, ongoing process, rather than a one-off event. It should be tailored to the needs of the young person.
Organisations that support children with disabilities and their families
Depending on the type of disability the child you care for has, or what their needs are, the following organisations can offer advice and support.
Carers UK is a national charity that supports unpaid carers. They have a wide range of advice, guides, tools and practical support on their website.
Contact, the charity for families with disabled children, offers a range of advice and support, including the Listening Ear telephone support service and a helpline.
The Family Fund provides grants to families on low incomes who are raising a disabled or seriously ill child or young person.
NNPCF is a network of over 153 parent carer forums across England. Each Parent Carer Forum includes parent carers of children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities.
Snap Cymru is a charity that supports inclusive education for children and young people with special educational needs, additional learning needs and disabilities in Wales.
Related advice and content
Caring for a SEND child is rewarding but can be challenging. It’s important to understand what your family is entitled to so you can make the right choices when choosing a school for your child.
Information for kinship carers on childcare options for children aged 0-16, including nurseries, pre-schools, childminders and nannies.
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