Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they will extend Disability Living Allowance to children under the age of three who suffer from severe medical conditions which require them to have bulky medical equipment with them at all times.

Families with children under the age of three are able to claim the care component of Disability Living Allowance where the child’s care needs are substantially in excess of the needs of a child of the same age without a disability.

From 9 April 2001, the age condition for entitlement to the higher rate mobility component was lowered from 5 years to 3 years. In deciding to set the lower age limit, the department considered views of medical advisors and independent research; while the development of walking ability varies from child to child, by age 3 it was felt that it is realistically possible in the majority of cases to make an informed decision as to whether an inability to walk is the result of disability.

We do however appreciate the difficulties that some families with severely disabled children aged under 3 face. We have met stakeholders at both Ministerial and official level to hear their concerns first-hand and are continuing to consider the matter.