The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has shared a new update for more than 313,600 people living in Scotland receiving financial support through Personal Independence Payment (PIP) who will start transferring to a devolved benefit this summer.
New claims for PIP will no longer be accepted after August 29. Instead, people over 16 and under State Pension age living with a disability, long-term illness or a physical or mental health condition should apply for Adult Disability Payment (ADP) from Social Security Scotland.
DWP said that 313,620 existing PIP claimants will have their awards “progressively transferred” to ADP over a period of time and added that “once a claim has been selected for transfer, the claimant will receive a letter from the DWP to let them know that their case is being transferred to Social Security Scotland” - the letter will also tell the claimant when their PIP award ends.
After DWP has sent this letter to the claimant, Social Security Scotland will then send out an ADP welcome letter which will explain what will happen next and when they will transfer over to the new payment.
Existing PIP claimants do not need to apply for the new benefit or worry about interrupted payments during the transfer from DWP to Social Security Scotland.
DWP said: “There will be no break in payment during the transfer from PIP to ADP.”
The transfer process for 313,620 existing PIP claimants began in mid-June and is expected to be completed by summer 2024. Previous guidance shared by the Scottish Government indicated that migration from DWP to the devolved IT system takes around three months per claimant.
ADP payment rates
There will be no change in payment rates between PIP and ADP to ensure a two-tier benefits system is avoided.
Claimants who receive ADP will be paid between £24.45 and £156.90 per week to help with the additional costs of daily living and mobility needs. The benefit is paid every four weeks so this amounts to between £97.80 and £627.60 every payment period.
Case transfer timetable from PIP to Adult Disability Payment
Social Security Scotland has also shared a case transfer timeline to give existing PIP claimants an idea of when they can expect to have their award moved from DWP.
From June 13, 2022:
- People who are due a review of their award and live within Dundee City, the Western Isles and Perth and Kinross
- People whose award is due to end before February 2023 living in any local authority in Scotland where they have no review date
From August 29, 2022:
- Case transfer will expand to all local authorities from August 29 when Adult Disability Payment is rolled out nationally across Scotland
Social Security Scotland said: “We will write to people in advance to tell them when to expect the transfer.
“We will continue to transfer these awards until the end of summer 2024, welcoming approximately 300,000 people who currently receive Personal Independence Payment to Social Security Scotland.”
Guidance on mygov.scot explains that if you get other benefits or services related to your disability payment, you will need to tell each organisation about the move to Social Security Scotland.
Who should I contact?
You need to contact your local council to tell them about the move from PIP to Adult Disability Payment if you get:
- Housing Benefit
- Council Tax Reduction
- Council Tax Exemption
The Scottish Government guidance also states that you also need to contact DWP to tell them about the move if you get:
- Universal Credit
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
- Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
- Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
It states: “You can do this by reporting a change of circumstances on each benefit that you get.”
You only need to contact HMRC if your disability payment rate has changed during the move and you get either:
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
Carer’s Allowance
If you get Child Disability Payment, and your carer gets Carer’s Allowance, you do not need to contact anyone.
The DWP will share this information with the Carer's Allowance Unit.
If you get Adult Disability Payment, and your carer gets Carer’s Allowance, you need to contact the Carer’s Allowance Unit.
You should let them know that your disability payment has moved to Social Security Scotland as this information will not be shared automatically.
You can contact the Carer’s Allowance Unit via GOV.UK, here.
To keep up to date with the most-read money stories, subscribe to our newsletter which goes out three times each week - sign up here.
READ NEXT
- What happens if you apply for PIP but should have applied for new disability payment
£150 cost of living payment for 6m people claiming one of these nine benefits due next month
New disability payment replacing PIP will include ‘informal observations’ during the consultation
People on PIP may need to report move to new disability benefit this summer to DWP
New disability payment rates could be higher than PIP following review due to start next year
