Conditions the JCPD recognises & how eligibility is decided

The JCPD does not publish a single definitive list of every qualifying condition. Eligibility rests on whether a long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairment substantially limits one or more major life activities. The conditions below are commonly recognised when they cause significant, long-term functional impairment.

Commonly recognised conditions

Recognised across many categories

Physical disabilities

Amputation (loss of limb)
Paralysis
Quadriplegia
Paraplegia
Hemiplegia
Cerebral palsy
Muscular dystrophy
Spina bifida
Multiple sclerosis (MS)
Polio / post-polio syndrome
Severe arthritis
Osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease)
Ankylosing spondylitis
Chronic back injuries
Severe mobility impairment
Dwarfism
Limb deformities

Visual disabilities

Total blindness
Partial blindness
Low vision
Advanced glaucoma
Retinitis pigmentosa
Macular degeneration
Diabetic retinopathy
Optic nerve disorders
Cataracts (where vision remains significantly impaired)

Hearing and speech disabilities

Deafness
Severe hearing loss
Hard of hearing
Speech impairment
Mutism
Aphasia
Severe stammering / stuttering

Intellectual disabilities

Intellectual disability
Down syndrome
Developmental delay
Global developmental delay
Fragile X syndrome

Autism and neurodevelopmental disorders

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Asperger syndrome (older diagnosis)
ADHD (where severe)
Learning disabilities
Dyslexia
Dyscalculia
Dysgraphia

Mental health conditions

Schizophrenia
Bipolar disorder
Major depressive disorder
Generalized anxiety disorder (where severe)
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Personality disorders (where significantly disabling)

Neurological disorders

Epilepsy
Parkinson's disease
Huntington's disease
Motor neurone disease (ALS)
Tourette syndrome
Brain injury
Stroke with lasting impairment
Hydrocephalus

Chronic medical conditions

These may qualify where they cause substantial long-term disability.

Sickle cell disease
Chronic kidney disease
End-stage renal disease requiring dialysis
Heart failure
Congenital heart disease
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Severe asthma
Cystic fibrosis
Lupus
Rheumatoid arthritis
Severe diabetes with complications
HIV/AIDS (where functional limitations exist)
Cancer with long-term disabling effects
Organ transplant recipients with lasting impairment

Rare genetic disorders

Marfan syndrome
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
Neurofibromatosis
Achondroplasia
Prader-Willi syndrome
Angelman syndrome
Williams syndrome
Rett syndrome

Multiple disabilities

Two or more disabilities occurring together, such as:

Deafblindness (blindness and hearing loss)
Cerebral palsy with intellectual disability
Autism with epilepsy
Multiple chronic disabling conditions

May qualify depending on severity

Diagnosis alone is not enough

Having one of these diagnoses does not automatically qualify someone. The JCPD considers the extent to which the condition limits daily functioning.

Diabetes
Hypertension (where complications cause disability)
Asthma
HIV
Cancer
Arthritis
Chronic pain disorders
Fibromyalgia
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Migraine disorders
ADHD
Anxiety disorders
Depression

How the JCPD decides

What is weighed

Whether the impairment is long-term or permanent
Whether it substantially limits mobility, communication, vision, hearing, self-care, learning, working or independent living
Medical evidence from a registered healthcare professional
A functional assessment, where required

Two people with the same diagnosis may receive different decisions, depending on how severely the condition affects their daily life.

Glossary

Abbreviations you may come across

CBR: Community-based Rehabilitation
CDA: Combined Disabilities Association
CRPD: Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
CWD: Children with disabilities
ESP: Early Stimulation Programme
ICF: International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health
ICIDH: International Classification of Impairments, Disabilities and Handicap
JAD: Jamaica Association for the Deaf
JAID: Jamaica Association for Intellectual Disabilities
JCPD: Jamaica Council for Persons with Disabilities
JEPP: Jamaica Empowerment Partnership for Persons with Disabilities
MLSS: Ministry of Labour and Social Security
NHF: National Health Fund
NIDS: National Identification System
NGO: Non-Governmental Organization
OPM: Office of the Prime Minister
PATH: Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education
PIOJ: Planning Institute of Jamaica
PWDs: Persons with disabilities
STATIN: Statistical Institute of Jamaica
UNCRC: United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
UNICEF: United Nations Children's Fund
UNDP: United Nations Development Programme
WHO: World Health Organization

Not sure whether you qualify?

If you think you or a family member may have a qualifying condition, get in touch. I can help you understand the requirements and the medical verification involved, and point you toward the benefits that may be available.

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