Child Disability Payment decision making guide
The individual's physical condition as a whole
When considering whether an individual is:
- unable to walk
- virtually unable to walk outdoors, or
- would experience a serious deterioration in their health from the exertion required to walk
case managers should have regard to the individual's physical condition as a whole (CDP regs, reg. 13(2)(a)).
The individual's disability should have a physical cause.
The individual does not need to have a diagnosed physical condition. For example, there may be cases where there is no supporting information from a professional to confirm that an individual's disability has a diagnosed physical condition. In these cases, case managers should still consider the individual's physical condition as a whole, based on the information provided by the individual, as well as any other forms of supporting information.
It can sometimes be difficult to determine whether a child or young person's mobility is affected by a physical disability. This happens especially when it manifests as a refusal to walk. In such circumstances the questions to focus on are:
- does the impact on the individual's disability have a physical cause?
- If so, does the individual's behaviour affect their ability to walk to such an extent that they can be said to be virtually unable to walk?
Tyler is 13 and has Down's syndrome. He is able to walk around outdoors but when doing so, he becomes extremely agitated and distressed and stops walking after only a few paces.
If he is encouraged to keep walking he may walk a short distance further but will often sit on the ground instead. Once on the ground it is very difficult to encourage him to get back up. Tyler can become very upset and his parent's report that he will begin biting and hitting himself.
Down's syndrome is caused by a chromosomal difference which impacts on brain development. It therefore has a physical cause.
The case manager determines that Tyler is virtually unable to walk and is therefore entitled to the higher rate of the mobility component.
For a definition of "virtually unable to walk", please see the section "Can the individual be described as virtually unable to walk?" below.
The individual's disability may also have a non-physical cause. This means that the physical cause does not need to be the only cause, but case managers must still have regard to the individual's physical condition as a whole.
An individuals' inability to walk or virtual inability to walk might also be due to a severe mental impairment or severe behavioural difficulties. You can find more information on this in the Severe Mental Impairment chapter.
CamiI is 15 and has Friedreich's ataxia. This makes walking difficult due to reduced coordination, weak muscle tone and a lack of sensation in Camil's feet. CamiI has since been diagnosed with schizophrenia. This is controlled using medication which causes them significant fatigue and drowsiness. As a result, CamiI is only able to walk up to 100 metres at a slow pace and frequently trips or falls.
Although CamiI's mobility is partly affected by a mental health condition, taking account of his physical condition as a whole, the case manager determines that CamiI is virtually unable to walk.
The case manager determines CamiI is entitled to the higher rate of the mobility component. The significance of the distance that an individual is able to walk is covered below.
Ria is 14 and has severe depression. Ria's condition causes fatigue which means she is only be able to walk for around ten minutes at a moderate pace before she needs to rest. Ria also has tendonitis in her right ankle that causes mild pain for which she infrequently has to take paracetamol. It does not impact her ability to manage the distance she describes being able to walk.
It is reasonable to conclude that taking account of Ria's physical condition as a whole, she is not virtually unable to walk.
As Ria's disability does not have a physical cause, the case manager determines that she is not entitled to the higher rate of the mobility component.