Relevant life events

The level of needs an individual has might change due to upcoming life events. If, based on the information you have on the individual, a future life event is expected to change the individual’s level of needs in a way that might impact entitlement, you should set a review for an appropriate time after that event. If it can be expected that the individual will require time to adjust to their new circumstances, following that event, you should take this adjustment period into consideration.

For example, an individual may move from their home to different accommodation that is better suited to their needs (e.g. having a walk-in shower, raised toilet seat and hand rails, and being on the ground floor without any steps to climb). This might decrease or remove the individual’s care needs, which might in turn lead to their award changing.

However, an individual moving in with their adult children, so that they can provide support more readily, would not constitute a relevant life event. This is because the individual’s needs do not change due to this event. Whether or not their needs are met (here, met through their adult children being available) is not relevant for their entitlement.

See the Rates and Criteria chapter for information about the PADP rates