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When a payment can be made
Scottish Adult DLA should typically be paid every four weeks, in arrears. Where Special Rules for Terminal Illness apply, or this was their payment cycle prior to transfer from DLA, Scottish Adult DLA should be paid weekly in advance ( Scottish Adult DLA regs, reg. 31 (b))
There are circumstances in which Scottish Adult DLA can be paid at a daily rate. This may be applicable to individuals living for a prolonged period in a care home or a residential educational establishment. (Scottish Adult DLA regs, reg. 31 (b))
If the individual has a period of absence from alternative accommodation, they may be paid at a daily rate. The daily rate is one-seventh of the weekly rate. The daily rate should be calculated from the day the individual goes on leave and ends the day after the individual returns to living in a care home (Scottish Adult DLA regs, reg. 26(3)) . For more detail on this please refer to the Alternative Accommodation chapter.
Example: an individual is paid the care component while on leave from residential care
Please note the following rates are for illustrative purposes only and may not be accurate.
Eloise is aged 74 and is in receipt of the middle rate of the care component and the lower rate of the mobility component of Scottish Adult DLA. She is admitted to residential care on 1st August. From day 29 spent in residential care, Eloise’s award for the care component of Scottish Adult DLA is calculated at £0. Her entitlement to payment of the mobility component of Scottish Adult DLA remains the same. After six weeks in residential care, Eloise is able to spend five days at home to see extended family. Eloise leaves residential care on 11th September. On 16th September, Eloise returns to the care home. To cover this 5 day period, Eloise’s award is recalculated at five-sevenths of the weekly rate of the care component.
- The weekly lowest-rate of the care component is: £23.70
- The Daily rate is one-seventh of the weekly lowest-rate is £3.39
- The calculation of Eloise’s award is therefore five-sevenths of the weekly rate, equivalent to five times the daily rate which is £16.95.
An individual who is terminally ill may become entitled from an earlier date. The rules vary depending on whether the terminal illness has been notified before the transfer determination is made (Scottish Adult DLA regs, schedule 1, part 2, reg. 9(4)) , or afterwards as a change of circumstances (Scottish Adult DLA regs, reg. 19(6)(7)) .In any case, this date can be no earlier than the date the Scottish Adult DLA Regulations come into force on 21 March 2025. For more information please see the chapter on Special Rules for Terminal Illness and the Case Transfer chapter.