This chapter covers the following topics:

• introduction
• eligibility
• attendance or supervision required during dialysis
• day and night criteria
• dialysis and other needs
• where the dialysis takes place

This chapter is relevant to individuals applying for, and individuals receiving Child Disability Payment (CDP) who report a change in their condition. It describes rules of entitlement for the care component of CDP that apply to people receiving renal dialysis due to a disability or a health condition (CDP regs, reg. 16(1)).

CDP is made up of the care component and the mobility component. Each of these components is awarded at a different rate. Rates describe a set amount of money at which the disability allowance is paid to the individual. There are three rates of the CDP care component: the lowest, middle, and highest rate.

Individuals receiving particular types of renal dialysis may qualify for the CDP care component under the rules for renal dialysis. If the individual qualifies for the care component under the special rules for renal dialysis then they do not need to meet the usual rules for the care component.

Undergoing renal dialysis does not automatically entitle individuals to the higher or lower CDP mobility component. They can receive the higher or lower CDP rate of the mobility component if they satisfy the criteria for the mobility component.

Dialysis is a procedure to remove waste products and excess fluid from the blood when the kidneys stop working properly. It often involves diverting blood to a machine to be cleaned and can be performed at home or in hospital. There are two types of dialysis:

• haemodialysis is carried out on average three times a week, each treatment takes approximately four hours
• peritoneal Dialysis is carried out daily for most children and young people, it takes 10-12 hours over night