§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the implications of recent developments in paediatric medicine requiring intensive nursing support by parents for the start date of disability living allowance payments for children being discharged from hospital; and if he will make a statement. [101345]
§ Maria EagleDevelopments in paediatric medicine do not alter the rules for the start date of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children being discharged from hospital. For all rates and components of DLA, the qualifying rules must have been satisfied for a period of at least three months before DLA can be paid. Where that qualifying period has been completed, the payment of DLA claimed and awarded while children are in hospital starts when they are discharged to their home address. Payments of DLA are reinstated on discharge for children who were receiving the allowance before they went into hospital for more than 12 weeks.