Child element
You get one child element for each eligible dependent child who ’normally lives’ with you.
1Reg 4(2) UC Regs Each child must be under 16, or aged 16 to 19 and in full-time non-advanced education or approved training.
2Reg 5 UC Regs You can claim for a 16-year-old child until 31 August after their 16th birthday, whether they are in education or not. You can only claim for a child up to 31 August following her/his 19th birthday, and s/he must have been under 19 when s/he started her/his education or training. You cannot claim for a child who claims UC, income support, jobseeker’s allowance, employment and support allowance or tax credits in her/his own right.
The higher child element is paid if one of your children was born before 6 April 2017.
You can usually only get a child element for a maximum of two children. However, you can get a child element for any child born before 6 April 2017. If you have a third child on or after 6 April 2017 and you get UC, you cannot get a child element for her/him unless an exception applies (see CPAG’s Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook for what these are).
You get an additional amount for any child or young person who gets disability living allowance or personal independence payment, whether you get a child element for her/him or not. If the child is severely disabled, you get a higher amount.