Assessing a recognised disability for Carer Allowance (CA) (child) 009-03040020

For the purposes of CA (child), a child with a recognised disability is automatically considered to be a disabled child and does not have to be assessed against the Disability Care Load Assessment Determination (DCLAD) (2020).

The Treating Health Professional (THP) will indicate on the medical report if the child care receiver has a recognised disability and if the condition is permanent or temporary for at least 12 months.

The LoRD in the Guide to Social Security Law has 2 categories:

• Recognised disabilities
• Recognised medical conditions

See References for links to the Guide to Social Security Law.

Some medical conditions are only recognised disabilities until the care receiver reaches a particular age. For example, Severe Multiple Disabilities - Seizures (SMS) is only a recognised disability if the child is under 6 months of age.

The fact that a child with this medical condition reaches the relevant age, or is older at the time of claim, does not mean their carer is not entitled to CA. It just means the medical condition is not a recognised disability.

If a child has a disability or medical condition that is not assessed as a recognised disability in the LoRD, the carer must be assessed against the Disability Care Load Assessment (child) Determination (DCLAD) (2020).

The claim will need further investigation if:

• the diagnosis is Coeliac Disease, and
• the THP has ticked 'other inborn errors of metabolism treated by medically prescribed diet to prevent neurological disability and/or severe organ damage'

This is because Coeliac Disease on its own is not a recognised disability.

For the purposes of assessing CA (child), Services Australia may be able to accept a non-Services Australia medical report if:

• the care receiver has been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and
• the carer provides a non-Services Australia medical report, instead of a Services Australia medical report

Note: for all other medical conditions, a Services Australia medical report is required to assess medical eligibility for CA (child). All claims for Carer Payment (CP) require a Services Australia medical report to be completed.