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.
Kinjal is 12 years old and was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis five months ago. The case manager determines that she is entitled to the:
- middle rate of the care component
- higher rate of the mobility component.
Kinjal is currently receiving non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication. She will soon start a new treatment which is more effective with the potential for her to feel less pain. The case manager determines that a review should take place in two years. This is because there is a possibility of Kinjal’s level of disability changing due to the new treatment for her arthritis.
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.
Vijay is 8 years old and has just been diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.
His mother and father are:
- doing finger prick blood tests several times a day to check his blood glucose levels
- closely monitoring his eating
- making changes towards a more healthy and active lifestyle for him.
Vijay is both:
- struggling with the diagnosis
- confused and frightened by the changes in his life.
This leads to regular conflicts with Vijay.
The case manager:
- reviews Vijay’s CDP application
- speaks with Vijay’s mother
- consults the medical guidance
- has a case discussion with a practitioner
to fully understand how Vijay’s needs might develop in the near future.
Based on the findings, the case manager expects Vijay to:
- adapt to his disability over the next few years
- be able to manage his condition with minimal input from his parents around the age of 12 years.
The case manager therefore decides to set a review period of 4 years as they think this is an appropriate review period for Vijay.
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.
Ivy is 6 and has Down’s Syndrome. The case manager determines that she is entitled to the:
- middle rate of the care component
- lower rate of the mobility component.
The case manager expects that:
- Ivy’s disability will change as she gets older and develops further
- the level of overall support Ivy needs is unlikely to change.
For this reason, the case manager determines that Ivy’s award of CDP will be reviewed in eight years when she is 14 years old.
Robin has congenital optic nerve hypoplasia. Both of Robin’s eyes are affected by his condition. He wears glasses, uses large text books and is given more time at school to complete tasks. Robin also has development delay with speech but is receiving speech therapy and this is slowly improving.
Robin’s mother applies for CDP when he turns five. The case manager determines that he is entitled to the:
- middle rate of the care component
- lower rate of the mobility component.
The case manager:
- understands that there is no treatment available for this condition
- the condition remains fairly stable over time
- with age, Robin is likely to slowly become more independent and require less support.
The case manager therefore sets the end of review period of Robin’s CDP award in 10 years from now when he is 15 years old.
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.
Sarah, who is 3 months old, was born with a cleft lip and palate. Her parents have to feed her through a tube in her nose as breastfeeding is not possible. She has also developed glue ear which is being treated with grommets that help clear Sarah’s ears of fluid.
Her parents apply for CDP on Sarah’s behalf.
When reviewing the application, the case manager learns from Sarah’s treatment plan that she has surgery:
- on her lip scheduled for the age of 6 months
- to close her cleft palate at the age of 12 months.
They also read in the supporting information that Sarah’s grommets are expected to fall out between 6 to 12 months of age.
The case manager:
- expects a change in Sarah’s disability
- decides to set a review date 12 months from now.
At the review, the case manager will better understand how Sarah’s disability has changed after she has recovered from her operation.
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.
Roisin, who is 7 years old, had a spinal injury which has caused her to experience paralysis of her arms and legs. Her father applies for CDP on her behalf. After reviewing her application, the case manager decides to award Roisin the:
- higher rate mobility component
- highest rate care component.
Based on Roisin’s prognosis, they do not expect her needs to change. The case manager therefore decides to not set a review date, so Roisin’s entitlement to CDP will end at her 18th birthday by which time she will have been invited to apply for ADP.
There is more information about individuals entitled to CDP beyond their 18th birthday in the Individuals 16 to 18 Years old chapter.