Chapter 61 -Attendance Allowance and DLA care component - Renal Dialysis
61220
People undergoing renal dialysis may satisfy the
1. disability test for the middle rate of care component
or
2. AA day condition if they undergo dialysis by day
or
3. AA night condition if they undergo dialysis by night.
61221
A person satisfies the appropriate provision in 61220 if
1. they regularly undergo renal dialysis for two or more sessions each week
and either
1.1 their type of dialysis normally requires attention or supervision
or
1.2 in their particular case they require another person to provide attention in connection with bodily functions, or to supervise them to avoid substantial danger to themselves during dialysis sessions. But note that if they undergo renal dialysis by day and night they can only satisfy the day or night condition, not both
61222
Any attention required during the period of dialysis need not be frequent by day, or repeated or prolonged by night. Similarly, any supervision or watching over required need not be continual by day or for a prolonged period or at frequent intervals at night. To satisfy the conditions in 61220, the attention or supervision need only be something more than a minimal level of attention or supervision
61223
Each case should be considered on its merits. But haemodialysis and intermittent peritoneal dialysis normally require attention or supervision1. For guidance on night and day in renal dialysis cases see 61201.
Exceptions
61224
A person cannot be deemed to satisfy either the day condition or the night condition if the renal dialysis
1. is carried out under the NHS
and
2. is out-patient treatment
and
3. is carried out
3.1 in a hospital or similar institution
and
3.2 with the assistance or supervision of any member of the hospital staff
61225
Any period spent receiving treatment for renal dialysis as in 61224 can be counted towards
1. the DLA care component
1.1 three month qualifying period
and
1.2 six month prospective test from 26.8.93
or
2.
the six month qualifying period for the day or night condition for AA.
61226
Where 61225 applies, payment of the care component can only be made during periods where the conditions in 61221 are satisfied.
Example
A student who undergoes haemodialysis on Tuesdays and Thursdays at the NHS hospital near her university returns home for the summer vacation in July. She undergoes dialysis at home, with her father supervising, until her return to university in September. Dialysis then continues at hospital as before. The middle rate care component of DLA is payable for the period she spends at home.
61227
The assistance or supervision required with dialysis and provided by hospital staff as in 61224 can count with other attention or supervision needs towards satisfying the day or night conditions.
61230
The higher rate of AA or the highest rate of DLA (care) is payable if a person undergoes
1. renal dialysis during the day and also satisfies the night conditions
or
2. renal dialysis during the night and also satisfies the day conditions. But if a person undergoes renal dialysis during the day and satisfies the day conditions for another reason, only the middle rate care component of DLA or the lower rate of AA is payable.