Child Disability Payment decision making guide
Rates of the care component
The care component of CDP has three rates: lowest, middle, and highest. An individual’s needs determine what criteria they meet and the rate of CDP they are entitled to. For more information on the rates, see the Payment of CDP chapter (CDP regs, reg. 11(5)).
Lowest rate
Individuals are entitled to the lowest rate of the care component of CDP if they meet at least one of the following:
- they require attention from another person for a significant portion of the day in connection with their bodily functions due to their physical or mental disability
- they are aged 16 or older and are unable to prepare a cooked main meal for themselves if they have the ingredients (CDP regs, reg. 11(5)(c)).
Middle rate
Individuals are entitled to the middle rate of the care component of CDP if they satisfy either:
- the day criterion
- the night criterion (1 CDP regs, reg. 11(5)(b)).
Highest rate
Individuals are entitled to the highest rate of the care component of CDP if they satisfy both the day criterion and the night criterion (CDP regs, reg. 11(5)(a)).
Individuals applying under special rules for terminal illness are also automatically entitled to the highest rate of the care component1 They do not need to meet any of the criteria described below. For more information, see the Special Rules for Terminal Illness chapter (CDP regs, reg. 15(1)(a)).