Chapter 61 -Attendance Allowance and DLA care component -Definitions - Significant Portion - So Severely Disabled Physically or Mentally
Significant portion
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The word "significant" should be given its ordinary meaning of not negligible or trivial. It refers only to the length of time a person requires attention. What may amount to a "significant portion of the day" depends largely on a person's individual circumstances. An hour may be considered reasonable in many cases.
So severely disabled physically or mentally
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The phrase "so severely disabled physically or mentally" relates to a condition of body or mind that can be defined medically. It is not meant to include unsociable behaviour which is not related to a serious mental illness or disability.
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The DM must always consider whether aggressive, seriously irresponsible or antisocial behaviour arises from a serious mental illness or disability.
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The question of the severity of the disability depends on whether the conditions of entitlement are met. If the disability is such that the person comes within any of the conditions of entitlement, then the person is "so severely disabled".
