This chapter looks at the criteria of entitlement to and rates of payment of the care component of Child Disability Payment (CDP).

This chapter should be read together with the Care Component - Definitions chapter.

Individuals must be below the age of 16 when entitlement to CDP begins (CDP regs, reg. 4(2)).

The exceptions to this is where they are moving to Scotland from the rest of the UK or transferring to CDP under case transfer.

Individuals must also satisfy the backwards and forwards tests to be entitled to CDP.

The backwards test looks at how long an individual has met or is likely to have met the criteria of entitlement. The backwards test for CDP is 13 weeks (CDP regs, reg. 11(3)(a)).

The forwards test looks at how long an individual is likely to continue to meet the criteria of entitlement. The forwards test for CDP is 26 weeks (CDP regs, reg. 11(3)(b)).

The individual must satisfy both tests to be entitled to CDP. This is because they help to distinguish between short-term and long-term need for assistance.

The exception to this is if an individual applies under Special Rules for Terminal Illness (SRTI). This is because individuals applying under SRTI do not need to satisfy the backwards or forwards tests (CDP regs, reg. 15(2)(a) and CDP regs, reg. 15(2)(b)).

They also do not need to meet the specific criteria discussed in this chapter. For more information, see the SRTI chapter.