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19 April, 2021 Open access

DWP adds new medical guidance on post-Covid Syndrome to staff guide on DLA for children

Updated guide advises that a 12-month award is appropriate for children with disablement solely caused by the illness

The DWP has added new medical guidance on post-Covid Syndrome to its staff guide on disability living allowance (DLA) for children.

In updated Medical guidance for DLA decision-makers (child cases) issued today - that contains background information for DWP staff on the most common medical conditions relevant to claims for DLA for children - the DWP includes guidance for the first time on post-Covid syndrome (Long Covid), advising that for children who remain unwell after the usual three to four week recovery period for Covid-19 -

‘It is those children who have significant functional impairment at 12 weeks and do not seem to be recovering, who may have entitlement to DLA Child.

Always consider the qualifying period and prospective test when assessing needs in a claim for DLA Child.

A child does not have to have had a positive test result to be diagnosed with the syndrome. Testing has not always been easily available.’

In addition, the DWP advises that decision-makers are now able to record ‘coronavirus Covid-19’ on the DLA computer system -

The guidance also suggests that a 12-month award is appropriate for children with disablement solely caused by post-Covid syndrome. For those children where post-Covid syndrome is a secondary condition, DWP staff are advised to determine the duration of awards for the primary disability as appropriate, on a case-by-case basis.

The guidance on post-Covid syndrome is available on page 742 of the updated Medical guidance for DLA decision-makers (child cases): staff guide.