Two doctors specialising in autism have been appointed to a medical panel to determine whether children qualified for a disability allowance after those with borderline autism were not deemed eligible, according to Social Solidarity Minister Michael Farrugia.

A number of individuals and the Autism Parents’ Association approached the ministry complaining about certain decisions regarding autistic children.

Any child certified to be suffering from some kind of disability may be granted the disabled child allowance, over and above the children’s allowance. Applications are referred to a medical panel that decides whether the child is eligible or not.

Spending five minutes before a generic medical board was not enough to recognise children with high-functioning or borderline autism and their applications were consequently being rejected.

Autistic children would now be examined by two specialised doctors and a representative from the social services department.

Dr Farrugia said that, between January and July, the board received 132 applications for the disabled child allowance: 41 per cent of the applications were submitted by parents of autistic children. From this number, 17 were accepted and 22 were given an appointment with the board.

Applications not deemed eligible will be reconsidered under the new arrangement.