Child disability payment
CDP is a benefit for children and young people in Scotland with disabilities or long-term health conditions. It is paid by SSS.
CDP has replaced DLA for children and young people living in Scotland.
CDP has two components.
To qualify for the ’care component’ the child must need:
•help with personal care for a significant portion of the day; or
•frequent help with personal care throughout the day; or
•continual supervision throughout the day to avoid danger to the child or others; or
•frequent or prolonged supervision at night to avoid danger; or
•prolonged or repeated attention at night.
Children qualify for the ‘mobility component’ if:
•they are unable or virtually unable to walk; or
•the exertion needed to walk would lead to a danger to their life or deterioration in their condition; or
•they have no legs or feet; or
•they are both blind and deaf; or
•they have a severe visual impairment; or
•they are terminally ill; or
•they have a severe mental impairment, have severe behavioural problems and are entitled to the highest rate of the care component (see below); or
•they need guidance or supervision on unfamiliar routes.
CDP care component is paid at three different rates and the mobility component at two different rates. Which rate is awarded depends on which needs the child has from the list above. Children can get the care component or the mobility component or both. They can receive the higher rate of the mobility component from age three, the lower rate of the mobility component from age five and any rate of the care component from age three months.
The child must satisfy the conditions above for at least 13 weeks before the start of the award and be likely to continue to satisfy them for at least the next 26 weeks. However, a child who is terminally ill (ie, who has a progressive disease that can reasonably be expected to cause their death) should be awarded the higher rate of both components. CDP can be backdated to the date they were first judged to be terminally ill if they claim CDP within 26 weeks. If they claim later than this, it can be backdated for 26 weeks.
An award of CDP for a child will always make a family better off. It is not means-tested and does not count as income when calculating means-tested benefits and tax credits. If a client’s child gets CDP, this may mean that the client becomes entitled to a means-tested benefit, or a higher amount of benefit that is already being paid. The client may also be able to claim CA or CSP (see here) and/or get the carer element of UC (see here). If a client’s child gets the highest rate of the care component of CDP during a qualifying week in September, they will be entitled to child winter heating payment. Child winter heating payment is an annual payment which is paid automatically by SSS. CDP cannot be backdated unless the child is terminally ill. It is not taxable.