Domiciliary care allowance (DCA) is a monthly payment to the parent or guardian of a child under the age of 16 with a disability so severe that the child requires care and attention and/or supervision substantially in excess of another child of the same age. Eligibility for DCA is not based primarily on the medical or psychological condition, but on the resulting lack of function of body or mind necessitating the degree of extra care and attention required. Each application is assessed on an individual basis taking account of the evidence submitted.
There were 24,148 parents/guardians in receipt of DCA in respect of 25,924 children at 30th April 2012. This compares to:
24,101 parents/guardians in receipt of DCA in respect of 25,914 children on 31st December 2011; and
23,428 parents/guardians in respect of 25,234 children on 31st December 2010.