Child Disability Payment decision making guide

Choosing an appropriate review period between 2 and 10 years

Generally, review periods should be set between 2 and 10 years. There are exceptions to this rule.

When setting a review date, the review should be scheduled to take place at the point by which the individual’s needs are likely to have changed. The relevant factors to consider when determining when that would be are set out in the Relevant considerations for setting a review period section in this chapter.

When setting a review period, it is essential that the case manager takes a person-centred approach. The review period must be appropriate for the individual. It must be set at a point where the individual’s award might not be at the right level for them anymore. By reviewing their award at that point in time, this will make sure that they continue to receive the support they need and are entitled to.

It is not appropriate to set shorter review periods as a default, as this method:

  • does not take a person-centred approach
  • will lead to the individual having to engage with the review process sooner and more often, potentially leading to a negative experience

Similarly, it is not appropriate to set longer review periods as a default, as this could:

  • lead to overpayments for the individual if they fail to report a change of circumstances
  • lead to an increase in unscheduled reviews when individuals do report a change of circumstances
  • make individuals feel unsupported by Social Security Scotland.

There is no specific guidance on review periods for individual conditions. This is because an individual’s condition is just one of many factors that the case manager needs to take into consideration when setting a review period. However knowledge of the condition and development typical for it can be helpful. Medical guidance should be consulted as needed for this [A to Z list of common illnesses and conditions | NHS inform ; Health A to Z - NHS (www.nhs.uk) ; Scottish health information you can trust | NHS inform].

Case managers should consider all of the available and relevant information on the individual in reaching a decision.

Review dates should be set at the point where there is a reasonable expectation that the individual’s needs may have changed, such that a review of their entitlement may be appropriate.

Setting a review period can be a complex decision. If a case manager is unclear as to how the individual’s level of need is likely to develop over time, they must request a case discussion with a practitioner.

Shorter review periods (24 months)

A review period of 24 months should be chosen when it is highly likely that the individual’s disability condition needs will change in the near future. Also see section on Exception: Review periods under 24 months. This might be due to, for example:

  • the individual becoming able to manage their condition more independently
  • the individual’s condition improving
  • treatment being expected to reduce the impact of the individual’s disability condition(s) needs.

This list is not exhaustive.

Medium-length review periods (25 months to 4 years)

The case manager should select a review period between 24 months and five years if the individual is likely to experience change in their level of needs.

Longer review periods (5 to 10 years)

If an individual’s condition(s) and/or needs are unlikely to change the case manager should select a review period of between five and ten years.

69. The case manager should also consider setting a review date between five and ten years, where the individual’s level of need is highly unlikely to change, but the individual either:

  • does not meet the criteria for the higher rate of both the care and the mobility component
  • the individual has clearly expressed a preference for a future award review date over having their review set to when CDP entitlement will end when they turn 18.

Case managers should consider choosing a review period closer to ten years, particularly where it is highly unlikely that the individual’s condition is likely to change.

Exception: Review periods under 24 months

In exceptional circumstances, case managers can set review periods of less than 24 months. This should only be done when it is clear from the information available on the individual’s circumstances that their condition is likely to change significantly before the 24-months mark.

Case managers must make sure that the individual is likely to meet the forwards test.

Case managers should consider the available information on the individual to:

  • understand the individual’s prognosis
  • decide if a review period under 24 months is appropriate.

Setting a review period under 24 months could be appropriate due to one of the following having a significant impact on the individual’s needs:

  • scheduled surgery planned beyond the longest possible time period for delaying a review
  • scheduled, staged corrective surgery
  • the individual recently starting new treatment likely to have a significant impact on their needs
  • the individual soon completing treatment likely to have a significant impact on their needs once recovered
  • it being difficult or impossible to anticipate how the individual’s needs will develop between 26 weeks and 24 months from now. This could be due to a degenerative condition where the individual’s needs are expected to increase but the pace of change is unclear.
  • the individual soon beginning a new phase in their life likely to have a significant impact on their needs, for example moving into adapted accommodation.

This list is not exhaustive.

Setting a review period of under 24 months may be appropriate if it is impossible to anticipate how the individual’s needs will develop beyond that time.

Case managers must make sure that this lack of clarity is not simply due to any of the following:

  • their lack of knowledge of the individual’s condition
  • gaps in the application, review form or in supporting information that they have not yet explored with a practitioner or the individual
  • their lack of general confidence regarding setting review periods.

In this case, case managers must request a case discussion with a practitioner to discuss what an appropriate review period would be.

Review periods longer than 10 years

In some exceptional cases, the case manager may consider whether it may be appropriate to set a longer review period than those already mentioned in this chapter. This may mean setting a review period to their 18th birthday when their entitlement to CDP will end, by which time they will have been invited to apply to ADP.

These types of awards are only appropriate for a small group of individuals whose needs are highly unlikely to change or only likely to increase. Case managers should consider all of the information available from the application or review form and supporting information in deciding whether or not to set an award review period.

The case manager should ensure they consider the individual’s level of needs as opposed to their condition. The individual may have a condition that is highly unlikely to change but, as they gain more independence with age, their level of needs may change.

The individual’s entitlement will be reviewed when they apply to Adult Disability Payment (ADP). They might be eligible for an indefinite award once they receive that assistance. These cases are exceptional. The case manager should only select this option if they are certain that the level of need is highly unlikely to change. . It does not matter which rate of either component of CDP the individual is entitled to.

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