In order to qualify for Domiciliary Care Allowance a child must have a disability so severe that they require care and attention and/or supervision substantially in excess of that normally required by a child of the same age. This care and attention must be provided by another person, effectively full time, so as to allow the child deal with the activities of daily living. The child must be likely to require this level of care and attention for at least 12 months.
An application for Domiciliary Care Allowance was received from the person in question on 21st July 2009. This application was referred to one of the Department's Medical Assessors who found that the child did not satisfy the medical criteria pertaining to the scheme.
A letter issued to the person in question on 21st September 2009 advising of the decision to refuse Domiciliary Care Allowance on the basis that the medical criteria had not been satisfied. In the case of an application which is refused on medical grounds, the applicant may submit additional information and/or request that the case be reviewed by a different Medical Assessor.
Where a person is not satisfied with the decision of a Deciding Officer, they may appeal the decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office.