Child Disability Payment decision making guide
Linked periods
When calculating the length of stay in alternative accommodation, individual periods shorter than 28 days can be added together to form one 28 day period. However, only periods with fewer than 28 days between them can be linked together in this way (CDP regs, reg. 17(3)).
When an individual takes a temporary period of leave shorter than 28 days, their entitlement to be paid the care component will stop when they return to alternative accommodation. This is because a temporary period of leave of 28 days or fewer does not break any linked periods.
However, if the individual takes a period of leave for 29 days or more before returning to alternative accommodation, the two periods in alternative accommodation are not linked and they will be paid the care component for the first 28 days of their stay (CDP regs, reg. 17(3)).
Sorcha ordinarily lives at home with her parents and has periodic stays in respite care, which meets the definition of a care home. She started receiving CDP six months ago.
Sorcha entered respite care on the 25th of March and left the 10th of April. The day she entered alternative accommodation and the day she leaves are not taken into account, so this period of residence is 15 days.
Sorcha is at home from 10th of April and enters respite again on the 30th of April. The day she left and the day she returned to respite are not taken into account so the period Sorcha was living at home is 19 days.
From the 30th of April Sorcha resides in respite care until returning home on the 16th of May. Neither the 30th of April nor the 16th of May are included in the calculation so the period Sorcha was residing in alternative accommodation for is 15 days.
As there are fewer than 28 days between the two periods during which Sorcha is in respite care, they are linked to form one 30 day period.
Sorcha will therefore receive the care component of CDP for the first 28 days of her stay but will not be paid for days 29 and 30.
Imri has been entitled to the care component of CDP for 3 years. They regularly spend short periods of time living in the accommodation provided by their school and live in their own home with their flat mate the rest of the time. Over the period of 3 months, Imri’s routine is:
- Residing at school: 1st of October to 7th October. This period of residence is 5 days.
- Living at home: 7th of October to 2nd of November. This period living at home is 25 days.
- Residing at school: 2nd of November to 10th of November. This period of residence is 7 days.
There are only 25 days between the 5 day period and the 7 day period residing at school. These two periods are linked to form one 12 day period. Imri is entitled to the care component for this 12-day period.
Imri then stays at home from 10th of November to 11th of December. As this is more than 28 days the clock is re-set. Therefore, the 12 days of residence at their school are not taken into consideration in calculating any future length of stay at the school.