Tories pledge to cut benefits for children with ‘milder cases’ of ADHD

The Conservatives have pledged to save £2.8bn a year by limiting Disability Living Allowance for children with behavioural disorders, learning difficulties or ADHD to those with the highest needs. The party says the change would help reduce welfare spending and prevent children being placed on a path towards long-term benefit reliance; Labour argues it would push families into hardship and could cost the state more.

Child DLA currently pays between £30.30 and £194.60 a week to help with the extra costs of raising a disabled child. The Conservatives say claims have risen from 521,476 in 2020 to 914,000, and estimate that about 70% of affected claimants would lose payments, while around 30% would keep them; the party proposes £1bn for mental health services and family hubs. The changes would apply to new claims and reassessments, with children with physical disabilities exempt, as part of wider proposed welfare savings of £36bn.