Travel assistance and help with travel costs is available to families of children with special educational needs or disability.
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) mobility component
If your child is eligible for Disability Living Allowance (DLA) mobility component, the amount they will get depends on the level of help they need getting about. For example:
- lowest rate - they can walk but need help and or supervision when outdoors
- highest rate - they cannot walk, can only walk a short distance without severe discomfort, could become very ill if they try to walk, or they’re blind or severely sight impaired
There are also age limits to receiving the mobility component:
- lowest rate - the child must be five years or over
- highest rate - the child must be three years or over
If the child you care for is under these ages and you claim DLA for them, you should be sent a claim pack six months before they turn three, and six months before they turn five. You can then apply for the mobility component if you think they’re eligible for it.
If you have not received any claim packs and you think the child you care for may be entitled to the mobility component, contact the Disability Service Centre.
Remember:
- You can't solely apply for the mobility component - the DLA form has both care and mobility sections to complete
- If the child you care for is under three and already gets the care component, you will need to reapply for both the care and the mobility component
Motability
Motability can be used by exchanging your qualifying mobility allowance to lease a new affordable car, wheelchair accessible vehicle, scooter or powered wheelchair.
For more information, visit Motability Scheme.
Family Fund Mobility Support
Family Fund Mobility Support is a pilot scheme providing a discretionary grant to lease a car for a limited time. The grant, provided by Family Fund and Motability, is aimed at helping people raising a disabled or seriously ill child under three meet their mobility needs.
More information can be found at Family Fund Mobility Support.
Blue Badges
Blue parking badges can help disabled people park closer to their destination and without buying a ticket.
More information and criteria can be found at Disabled person's parking permit (Blue Badge).
Congestion Charge exemption
If you have a valid Blue Badge, you're eligible to register for a 100% congestion charge discount, even if you don't own a vehicle or drive.
You can register up to two vehicles that you would normally use to travel within the Congestion Charge zone. This could be your own vehicle, or one that you and child you care for travels in.
Find out more at TFL – discounts and exemptions.
Healthcare travel costs scheme
If the child you care for is referred to hospital or other NHS premises for specialist NHS treatment or diagnostic tests by a doctor, dentist or another primary care health professional, you may be able to claim a refund of reasonable travel costs under the Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme (HTCS).