Tories propose restricting disability payments for most children with ADHD

The Conservatives have pledged to save £2.8bn a year by ending Disability Living Allowance payments for most children whose claims involve behavioural disorders, learning difficulties or ADHD. The proposal would leave cash support for children with the highest needs and replace it for others with services including mental health support and family hubs.

The party says about 30% of affected claimants would continue to receive payments, while the remaining 70% would lose them. It says it would invest £1bn in the alternative support. The proposed changes would apply to new claims and reassessments; children with physical disabilities would be exempt.

Child DLA helps families meet the additional costs of raising a disabled child. Depending on a child’s needs, payments range from £30.30 to £194.60 a week. Eligibility depends on whether a child has difficulty getting about or needs substantially more care than a non-disabled child of the same age.

The Conservatives say the number of child DLA cases rose from 521,476 in 2020 to 914,000. The party describes it as the fastest-growing benefit in the UK welfare system.

Shadow work and pensions secretary Helen Whately said the system risked putting children on a “conveyor belt” towards a “lifetime on benefits”. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch argued that telling a young person their ADHD meant they were “defective” could harm their future more than the condition itself.

Labour called the proposal a “charter for homelessness and human misery” that would push people into hardship and could cost the state more. The party said it was expanding face-to-face assessments and personalised employment support for sick and disabled people, as well as its Youth Guarantee for young people.

The Child Poverty Action Group said the proposals would cause the biggest overnight increase in child poverty since records began. That is the group’s assessment of the plan.

The child DLA proposal is part of a wider Conservative package that the party says would save £36bn from the welfare budget. Other announced measures include changes to sickness and disability benefits, housing support and the two-child benefit cap.

Labour has said it wants to reduce the benefits bill but has not set a timetable for cuts. Reviews of disability benefits and of young people not in education, employment or training are due to be published in November.