Rules for Renal Dialysis

This chapter is relevant to individuals receiving Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance (Scottish Adult DLA) who report a change in their condition. It describes rules of entitlement for the care component of Scottish Adult DLA that apply to people receiving renal dialysis due to a disability or a health condition. )Scottish Adult DLA Regs, Reg. 21)

Scottish Adult DLA 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 Scottish Adult DLA care component: the lowest, middle, and highest rate. More information about the rates and components for Scottish Adult DLA can be found in the Rates and Criteria chapter.

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 4 hours
• Peritoneal Dialysis is carried out daily for most people. It takes 10-12 hours overnight.

Individuals receiving particular types of renal dialysis may qualify for the middle rate of the care component of Scottish Adult DLA under the rules for renal dialysis. If the individual qualifies for the care component under the renal dialysis rules then they do not need to meet the usual rules for the care component.

To be entitled to the care component under renal dialysis rules, individuals need to fulfil the backwards and forward test.

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