An evaluation of the mobility allowance for families with handicapped children

A variety of methods were used to evaluate the mobility allowance as a social security benefit for families with handicapped children. A study of the policy development showed that the mobility allowance was not the outcome of a rationally-planned and coherent strategy designed to meet need. A survey of families with a child beneficiary showed that the allowance helped to sustain the child's existing mobility, but did little to increase it. A study of the criteria according to which the allowance is allocated suggested that there is a case to be made for paying the allowance from the age of two rather than from the age of five.