Child Disability Payment decision making guide
Change of circumstances before an initial determination has been made
This section applies in circumstances where an individual provides additional information:
- after an application has been submitted
- before a determination has been made.
Case managers should take any new information they receive into account when making a determination.
A further application is not necessary when an individual reports a change of circumstances before the initial determination is made.
Case managers will need to make two determinations if the individual’s needs have changed since their application was initially submitted, where the change reported affected the initial rate of award.
This includes the possibility of an individual not being entitled to CDP for the period before or after the change of circumstances.
The first determination takes into account the needs of the individual based on the original information provided in the application.
The second determination takes into account the needs of the individual based on the change reported or the new information provided.
This could result in two different periods of entitlement with different rates of award..
The second determination is effective for payment once the individual meets the backwards test for the new information provided.
Where an individual has reported a change of circumstances for an award that is already in payment, case managers should refer to the ‘Change of Circumstances’ chapter.
Twelve year old Mandy has epilepsy and needs continual supervision during the day. Mandy’s mother submits an application for CDP on her behalf on 1 March. Mandy’s mum contacts Social Security Scotland to let them know that Mandy:
- has been in a car accident on 28 April
- is severely injured
- is virtually unable to walk any distance without experiencing severe discomfort.
The supporting information indicates that her recovery will take at least 10 months.
The case manager determines that from 1 March Mandy is entitled to the:
- middle rate of the care component
- lower rate of the mobility component.
This award is based on Mandy’s needs as a result of epilepsy.
The case manager then makes another determination:
- based on the information they have received about Mandy’s needs resulting from her walking restriction
- that now meets the criteria for higher rate of the mobility component.
They determine that she will be entitled to:
- the highest rate of the care component
- the higher rate of the mobility component
once she meets the backwards test of 13 weeks from the date of the accident. Mandy will therefore be eligible for this rate from 28 July. Two separate determinations of entitlement sent out both of these awards.
Nine year old Josh has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. His mother applies for CDP on 10 June 2020. The application suggests that because of his needs Josh is likely to be entitled to the:
- lower rate of the mobility component
- lowest rate of the care component.
These are based on Josh needing:
- supervision when moving around outside
- prompting with personal care tasks like washing and dressing.
Before the case manager makes the determination, they receive information that Josh has been diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes on 5 August 2020. This means he now needs:
- assistance with administering insulin on a daily basis
- careful monitoring of his blood glucose levels
Josh cannot do this himself because of his ADHD, and his mum must do this for him.
As Josh’s increased needs began on 5 August, the backwards test will be satisfied on 4 November. This is the earliest date that the higher rate of CDP can be paid from. Therefore, the case manager will make an initial determination that Josh is entitled to the lowest rate of the care component and the lower rate of the mobility component of CDP from 10 June to 3 November, and a second determination that he is entitled to the middle rate of the care component and the lower rate of mobility from 4 November 2020 onwards.