Medical guidance for DLA decision makers (child cases): staff guide
Medical guidance for DWP staff who make decisions on child cases for Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
Documents
Details
This guide for staff is written with help from experts involved in patient care. It contains background information on the most common medical conditions relevant to claims for DLA for children – not all medical conditions. It covers the treatment, the likely disabling effects, the likely impact on ability to self-care and get around and the likely duration of needs.
Printed versions of this guide are not available.
Adult cases
There is a similar guide for DWP staff who make decisions on adult cases for DLA and Attendance Allowance.
Why we publish this guide
We publish this guide to help people understand how we make decisions.
Information for claimants
Last updated 11 May 2023 + show all updates
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Updated the ADHD section of the Medical guidance for DLA decision makers (child cases): staff guide.
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Updated medical guidance for DLA decision makers (child cases) staff guide: changes made to ‘Visual Impairment’, under two years of age guidance in the section ‘How is it assessed’.
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Updated medical guidance for DLA decision makers (child cases) staff guide: changes made to ‘Respiratory’ guidance, ‘Autism’ guidance in the section ‘What are the signs and effects’ and added notes on gender and use of correct terminology.
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‘Updated medical guidance for DLA decision makers (child cases) staff guide: Amended ‘Suicide and Self harm’ information is now included in medical guidance for ‘Depression.’ A new piece of medical guidance has also been included called ‘Post COVID Syndrome (Long COVID).’
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Updated medical guidance for DLA decision makers (child cases) staff guide: changes made to the ‘award duration’ guidance for Cerebral Palsy.
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Updated medical guidance for DLA decision makers (child cases) staff guide: changes made to the ‘Congenital Heart Disease’ medical guidance and new guidance added for ‘Clubfoot’.
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Updated medical guidance for DLA decision makers (child cases) staff guide: changes made to the ‘award duration’ guidance for the following medical conditions: Anorexia Nervosa, Anxiety disorders, Depression, Down syndrome, Learning disabilities and Speech & Language disorders.
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Updated medical guidance for DLA decision makers (child cases) staff guide: changes made to - anxiety disorders, attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), autism, depression and Down syndrome.
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Updated PDF and Open Document attachments following a correction to the ASD award duration guidance.
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Updated guidance on the length of awards for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism.
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Added new guidance about anorexia nervosa. Amended the award duration details for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
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Updated both versions of the Medical guidance for DLA decision makers (child cases): staff guide, with new guidance on: speech and language disorders, visual impairment and amputation of limbs.
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Updated both versions of the guide with new guidance on: anxiety disorders, cleft lip/palate, congenital heart disease, depression, dyspraxia, gastro-oesophagael reflux disease, joint hypermobility, premature babies and speech and language disorders.
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Updated both versions of the guide.
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Revised both versions of the child medical staff guide with updated diabetes award duration information.
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Updated both versions of the guide.
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Updated both versions of the guide.
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Updated both versions of the guide.
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First published.