Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) is a monthly allowance payable to a parent / guardian in respect of a child aged under 16 who has a severe disability requiring continual or continuous care and attention in the home, substantially in excess of the care and attention normally required by a child of the same age without their disability and the child must be likely to require this level of care and attention for at least 12 months.
While an assessment or diagnosis of a specific disability or condition may assist the Department's deciding officers and medical assessors to make an appropriate decision on entitlement, eligibility for DCA is not based entirely on the type of disability or diagnosis, but on the impact of the disability in terms of the child's resulting medical and additional care needs.
A child who has a psychosocial condition or any other specified diagnosis may qualify for DCA, depending on the extent of their additional care needs.
All applications for DCA are decided by a deciding officer on an individual case by case basis, in respect of the relevant child. The personal details provided on the completed application form (Dom Care 1) including the signed details from the applicant's GP / medical professional on this form, along with any additional information or documentary evidence that is provided by the applicant, such as medical professional report(s) or otherwise, forms the basis for the DCA assessment and decision process in all cases.
In addition, the deciding officer also considers the professional opinion of the Department's Medical Assessor in the DCA decision process.
Disability Allowance (DA) is a weekly allowance payable to persons aged 16 or over and under the age of 66, who have a specified disability such as an injury, disease, congenital deformity or physical or mental illness or defect which had continued or may be expected to continue for at least one year, and as a result of the condition, the person would be substantially restricted in undertaking work which would otherwise be suitable, having regard to the person's age, experience and qualifications. It is important to note that entitlement to DA is generally not established on the nature or the type of disability but rather on the extent to which a particular disability such as a psychosocial condition or otherwise, impairs or restricts the person's capacity to work, in accordance with the governing legislation. The opinion of a Department Medical Assessor is also considered in the DA decision process. DA is also subject to a means test and the habitual residency condition.
Carer's Allowance (CA) is a means tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the state and who is providing full-time care and attention to an adult or child who needs support because of age, physical or learning disability or illness including mental illness. The Department's Medical Assessor's opinion is also considered in the CA decision process.
For the purpose of CA, a person is regarded as requiring full-time care and attention where the person is so incapacitated as to require continual supervision and frequent assistance throughout the day in connection with normal bodily functions or continual supervision in order to avoid being a danger to themselves and is likely to require full-time care and attention for at least 12 months.
In order to qualify for CA for a child under 16, the carer must be in receipt of DCA in respect of the relevant child.
I hope this clarifies the position for the Deputy.
