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Deirdre Vann Bourke, Kerry Development Manager with South Munster Citizens Information Service explains the Domiciliary Care Allowance…
The Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA)is a monthly payment for a child aged under 16 with a severe disability. The child must need ongoing care and attention substantially over and above that usually needed by a child of the same age. The payment is not means tested.
The Department of Social Protection (DSP) use the DCA Medical Guidelines when it is assessing applications for DCA.
The guidelines state that the payment is not based on the type of disability, but on the level of physical or mental impairment which results in the child needing substantially more care and attention than another child of the same age.”
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How to qualify for Domiciliary Care Allowance
To qualify, the child must have a severe disability that is likely to last for at least 1 year and:
• Be aged under 16
• Live at home with the person claiming the allowance for 5 or more days a week. (However, there are some exceptions to this – outlined below.)
• Meet the medical criteria
• Be ordinarily resident in the State.
In addition, the person claiming the allowance for the child must:
• Provide for the care of the child
• Be habitually resident in the State.
Medical criteria
The legislation states that to qualify for Domiciliary Care Allowance a child must have “a severe disability requiring continual or continuous care and attention substantially in excess of the care and attention normally required by a child of the same age”.
Deirdre clarifies;“This means that eligibility for DCA is not based on the type of impairment or disease, but on the resulting lack of function of body or mind which means the child needs extra care and attention. This care and attention must be required to allow the child to 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.”
The Department’s Medical Assessor looks at all the following before giving an opinion on whether your child meets the medical criteria:
• The history of the case.
• All medical reports received (your GP fills out a medical report and you should include reports from any relevant specialists).
• Your description of the care and attention required by your child. (The form allows you to state what extra care your child needs under a number of headings.)
“If you have any queries about completing the form or if you are unsure what level of information is required, please call your local CIC where staff will be happy to help.” says Deirdre.
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Living at home
To qualify for DCA, the child must live at home with the person claiming the allowance for 5 or more days a week. However, DCA may be paid where this is not possible because the parents are sharing care and live apart, or the child spends part of the week in residential care.
Parents living apart
DCA may be paid where parents are sharing the full-time care of their disabled child, but live apart. For example, where separated parents have joint custody, but the child doesn’t live with either parent for the required 5 continuous days each week. In this case, the DCA is paid to the parent nominated in writing by both parents or to the parent who is getting Child Benefit for the child.
Residential care
A half-rate DCA payment may be paid if a child in residential care goes home for 2 days or more a week, for example, a child who attends residential services from Monday to Friday and goes home at weekends. Children who are being cared for on a full-time basis in residential homes or other institutions are not eligible for the allowance.
Rate of Domiciliary Care Allowance
“The current rate of Domiciliary Care Allowance is €330 per month and there is no restriction on the number of children for whom you may claim DCA. So, if you are caring for more than one child who qualifies for DCA, you may claim the monthly allowance for each one. Payment is made on the third Tuesday of every month for the current month.”
Hospital stays
You can continue to get DCA for up to 26 weeks (in a period of 12 months), if your child is getting medical or other treatment in hospital. Babies who remain in an acute hospital after birth can also get DCA for up to 26 weeks (in a period of 12 months).
Other payments
Your entitlement to Child Benefit is not affected by getting DCA. In addition, Deirdre confirms that you may qualify for other payments such as Carer’s Benefit or Carer’s Allowance or the annual Carer’s Support Grant if you meet the other conditions. People getting DCA do not need to fill out the medical form when applying for Carer’s Allowance.
How to apply for Domiciliary Care Allowance
To apply, fill in a Domiciliary Care Allowance form which you can get online or by calling into your local CIC.
Your child’s GP/specialist will need to fill in parts 6 and 7 (the medical section) of the form. You should also attach any reports or other information you have about your child’s disability and the impact it has on their care needs.
Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD)
Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) refers to a group of disorders characterised by delays in the development of socialisation and communication skills. Autism, Asperger’s Syndrome, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder and Rett’s Syndrome are generally referred to under this category.
Deirdre cautions “If your child has a Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD) you are advised to have the medical professional/specialist dealing with your child complete an additional medical form called DomCare3. Completion of this form is optional since medical professionals may have already provided a comprehensive report on your child’s medical condition and care needs. However, if you do not have a recent report from your child’s treating medical professional, the DomCare3 form can provide useful additional information.
The completed form will detail your child’s conditions, any specific care needs your child might have as a result of their disability and will help the Department’s medical assessor to form an opinion on eligibility.
What happens when my child reaches the age of 16?
DCA stops when a child reaches 16 so your last DCA payment will be for the month of their 16th birthday. The Department of Social Protection will write to you 3 months before your child’s 16th birthday to remind you that DCA will shortly stop.
“At age 16, your child can apply in their own right for Disability Allowance. Disability Allowance is a means-tested payment for people with disabilities who as a result of their disability are substantially restricted in undertaking work that would otherwise be suitable for a person of their age, experience and qualifications.
The qualifying conditions for the two payments are different so the fact that your child may have been getting Domiciliary Care Allowance up to age 16 does not mean they will automatically qualify for Disability Allowance.”
The means test for Disability Allowance assesses the means of your child and your income is not taken into account.
• If you need further information about any of the issues raised here or you have other questions, you can call a member of the local Citizens Information Service in Kerry.
Tralee — Tel; 0818 07 7860 Email: tralee@citinfo.ie
Killarney — Tel: 0818 07 7820 Email: Killarney@citinfo.ie
Caherciveen — Tel: 0818 07 7780 Email: caherciveen@citinfo.ie
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