Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992

73 The mobility component. N.I.

(1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, a person shall be entitled to the mobility component of a disability living allowance for any period in which he is over [F1 the relevant age] and throughout which—

(a) he is suffering from physical disablement such that he is either unable to walk or virtually unable to do so;

[F2 (ab) he falls within subsection (1AB) below;]

[F2 (b) he does not fall within that subsection but does fall within subsection (2) below;]

(c) he falls within subsection (3) below; or

(d) he is able to walk but is so severely disabled physically or mentally that, disregarding any ability he may have to use routes which are familiar to him on his own, he cannot take advantage of the faculty out of doors without guidance or supervision from another person most of the time.

[F3 (1A) In subsection (1) above “the relevant age” means—

(a) in relation to the conditions mentioned in paragraph (a), [F4 (ab),] (b) or (c) of that subsection, the age of 3;

(b) in relation to the conditions mentioned in paragraph (d) of that subsection, the age of 5.]

[F5 (1AB) A person falls within this subsection if—

(a) he has such severe visual impairment as may be prescribed; and

(b) he satisfies such other conditions as may be prescribed.]

(2) A person falls within this subsection if—

(a) he is both blind and deaf; and

(b) he satisfies such other conditions as may be prescribed.

(3) A person falls within this subsection if—

(a) he is severely mentally impaired; and

(b) he displays severe behavioural problems; and

(c) he satisfies both the conditions mentioned in section 72(1)(b) and (c) above.

F6 (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

[F6 (4A) In its application to a person in relation to so much of a period as falls before the day on which he reaches the age of 16, subsection (1) above has effect subject to the modification that the condition mentioned in paragraph (d) of that subsection shall not be taken to be satisfied unless—

(a) he requires substantially more guidance or supervision from another person than persons of his age in normal physical and mental health would require, or

(b) persons of his age in normal physical and mental health would not require such guidance or supervision.]

(5) F7 ... circumstances may be prescribed in which a person is to be taken to satisfy or not to satisfy a condition mentioned in subsection (1)(a) or (d) or subsection (2)(a) above.

[F8 (5A) Subsection (4A) above has effect subject to regulations made under subsection (5) above (except as otherwise prescribed).]

(6) Regulations shall specify the cases which fall within subsection (3)(a) and (b) above.

(7) A person who is to be taken for the purposes of section 72 above to satisfy or not to satisfy a condition mentioned in subsection (1)(b) or (c) of that section is to be taken to satisfy or not to satisfy it for the purposes of subsection (3)(c) above.

(8) A person shall not be entitled to the mobility component for a period unless during most of that period his condition will be such as permits him from time to time to benefit from enhanced facilities for locomotion.

(9) A person shall not be entitled to the mobility component of a disability living allowance unless—

(a) throughout—

(i) the period of 3 months immediately preceding the date on which the award of that component would begin; or

(ii) such other period of 3 months as may be prescribed,

he has satisfied or is likely to satisfy one or other of the conditions mentioned in subsection (1)[F9 (a) to (d)] above; and

(b) he is likely to continue to satisfy one or other of those conditions throughout—

(i) the period of 6 months beginning with that date; or

[F10 (ii) if expected to die within the period of 12 months beginning with that date, either the period of 6 months beginning with that date or the period beginning with that date and ending at death.]

[F11 (9A) The modifications mentioned in subsection (4A) above shall have effect in relation to the application of subsection (1) above for the purposes of subsection (9) above, but only—

(a) in the case of a person who is under the age of 16 on the date on which the award of the mobility component would begin, and

(b) in relation to so much of any period mentioned in subsection (9) above as falls before the day on which he reaches the age of 16.]

(10) Two weekly rates of the mobility component shall be prescribed.

(11) The weekly rate of the mobility component payable to a person for each week in the period for which he is awarded that component shall be—

(a) the higher rate, if he falls within subsection (9) above by virtue of having satisfied or being likely to satisfy one or other of the conditions mentioned in subsection (1)(a), [F12 (ab),] (b) and (c) above throughout both the period mentioned in paragraph (a) of subsection (9) above and [F13 (as the case may be) the period mentioned in paragraph (b)(i), or a period mentioned in paragraph (b)(ii),] of that subsection; and

(b) the lower rate in any other case.

(12) For the purposes of this section in its application to a person who is terminally ill, as defined in section 66(2) above, and who makes a claim expressly on the ground that he is such a person—

(a) subsection (9)(a) above shall be omitted; and

(b) subsection (11)(a) above shall have effect as if for the words from “both” to “subsection”, in the fourth place where it occurs, there were substituted the words “[F14 (as the case may be) the period mentioned in paragraph (b)(i), or a period mentioned in paragraph (b)(ii), of subsection (9)] above”.

(13) Regulations may prescribe cases in which a person who has the use—

(a) of an invalid carriage or other vehicle provided under Article 30(1) of the M1 Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972 or provided by the Secretary of State under section 5(2)(a) of the M2 National Health Service Act 1977 and Schedule 2 to that Act or under section 46 of the M3 National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978; or

(b) of any prescribed description of appliance supplied under that Order being such an appliance as is primarily designed to afford a means of personal and independent locomotion out of doors,

is not to be paid any amount attributable to entitlement to the mobility component or is to be paid disability living allowance at a reduced rate in so far as it is attributable to that component.

(14) A payment to or in respect of any person which is attributable to his entitlement to the mobility component, and the right to receive such a payment, shall (except in prescribed circumstances and for prescribed purposes) be disregarded in applying any enactment or instrument under which regard is to be had to a person’s means.

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 73(1) substituted (9.4.2001) by S.I. 1999/3147 (N.I. 11), art. 64(3)(4); S.R. 2000/182, art. 2(c)

F2 S. 73(1)(ab)(b) substituted for s. 73(1)(b) (23.9.2010 for specified purposes, 15.10.2010 for specified purposes, 11.4.2011 in so far as not already in force) by Welfare Reform Act (Northern Ireland) 2010 (c. 13), ss. 13(2), 36(2); S.R. 2010/327, art. 2(1)(a)(b)(c)

F3 S. 73(1A) inserted (9.4.2001) by S.I. 1999/3147 (N.I. 11), art. 64(3)(4); S.R. 2000/182, art. 2(c)

F4 Word in s. 73(1A)(a) inserted (23.9.2010 for specified purposes, 15.10.2010 for specified purposes, 11.4.2011 in so far as not already in force) by Welfare Reform Act (Northern Ireland) 2010 (c. 13), ss. 13(3), 36(2); S.R. 2010/327, art. 2(1)(a)(b)(c)

F5 S. 73(1AB) inserted (23.9.2010 for specified purposes, 15.10.2010 for specified purposes, 11.4.2011 in so far as not already in force) by Welfare Reform Act (Northern Ireland) 2010 (c. 13), ss. 13(4), 36(2); S.R. 2010/327, art. 2(1)(a)(b)(c)

F6 S. 73(4A) substituted for s. 73(4) (8.10.2007) by Welfare Reform Act (Northern Ireland) 2007 (c. 2), ss. 49(2), 60(1); S.R. 2007/429, art. 2(1)(b)

F7 Words in s. 73(5) repealed (8.10.2007) by Welfare Reform Act (Northern Ireland) 2007 (c. 2), ss. 49(3), 60(1), Sch. 8; S.R. 2007/429, art. 2(1)(b)(e)

F8 S. 73(5A) inserted (8.10.2007) by Welfare Reform Act (Northern Ireland) 2007 (c. 2), ss. 49(4), 60(1); S.R. 2007/429, art. 2(1)(b)

F9 Words in s. 73(9)(a) inserted (8.10.2007) by Welfare Reform Act (Northern Ireland) 2007 (c. 2), s. 60(1), Sch. 7 para. 1(2); S.R. 2007/429, art. 2(1)(d)

F10 S. 73(9)(b)(ii) substituted (4.4.2022) by Social Security (Terminal Illness) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 (c. 7), ss. 1(3), 3(2); S.R. 2022/171, art. 2

F11 S. 73(9A) inserted (8.10.2007) by Welfare Reform Act (Northern Ireland) 2007 (c. 2), ss. 49(5), 60(1); S.R. 2007/429, art. 2(1)(b)

F12 Word in s. 73(11)(a) inserted (23.9.2010 for specified purposes, 15.10.2010 for specified purposes, 11.4.2011 in so far as not already in force) by Welfare Reform Act (Northern Ireland) 2010 (c. 13), ss. 13(5), 36(2); S.R. 2010/327, art. 2(1)(a)(b)(c)

F13 Words in s. 73(11)(a) substituted (4.4.2022) by Social Security (Terminal Illness) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 (c. 7), ss. 1(4)(a), 3(2); S.R. 2022/171, art. 2

F14 Words in s. 73(12)(b) substituted (4.4.2022) by Social Security (Terminal Illness) Act (Northern Ireland) 2022 (c. 7), ss. 1(4)(c), 3(2); S.R. 2022/171, art. 2

Marginal Citations

M1 S.I. 1972/1265 (N.I. 14).

M2 1977 c. 49.

M3 1978 c. 29.