Care components of Scottish Adult DLA

This chapter covers guidance on interpreting definitions for the care and mobility components of Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance (Scottish Adult DLA).

The care component of Scottish Adult DLA is payable at three rates:

• The lowest rate
• The middle rate
• The highest rate

Lowest Rate Care Component

An individual is eligible to receive the lowest rate care component of Scottish Adult DLA if they cannot:

• prepare a cooked main meal for themself if they have the ingredients; or
• they require attention from another person for a significant portion of the day in connection with their bodily functions (Scottish Adult DLA regs, reg. 6(4)(c))

Middle Rate Care Component

An individual is eligible to receive the middle rate care component of Scottish Adult DLA if they:

• satisfy one of the daytime or night-time disability conditions (outlined below); or
• undergo regular renal dialysis by day or by night (where “regular” means two or more times per week); and they either:
• receive a type of dialysis which makes it necessary for another person to be present or to supervise; or
• need another person to be present during dialysis to help with their bodily functions or to supervise in order to avoid danger to them. (Scottish Adult DLA regs, reg. 6(4)(b))

Highest Rate Care Component

An individual is eligible to receive the highest rate care component of Scottish Adult DLA if they:

• satisfy one of the daytime and one of the night-time disability conditions (outlined below); or
• they are terminally ill (Scottish Adult DLA regs, reg 6(4)(a))