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?

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.

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