New claims for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) have now been replaced by the Adult Disability Payment in several areas across Scotland following a successful rollout in Angus, North Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire on June 20. The devolved benefit initially opened in March for residents in Dundee City, Perth and Kinross or the Western Isles.
The staggered introduction of the new benefit means that people of working age with a disability, long-term illness or physical or mental health condition can now apply for disability assistance to Social Security Scotland and not the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The benefit will open nationwide from August 29, 2022.
Some 313,620 existing PIP claimants in Scotland will start to transfer from the DWP benefits system to Social Security Scotland this summer with letters sent to people advising them of the move which takes around three months to complete. People already receiving PIP or Disability Living Allowance (DLA Adult), do not need to re-apply for the new payment.
One of the main differences between the two disability benefits is the way assessments or consultations are conducted.
The biggest change is the removal of face-to-face assessments, something the Scottish Government guidance clarifies in an online Adult Disability Payment Q&A factsheet.
It states: “We have replaced controversial private sector face to face assessments with compassionate consultations.
“A consultation will be a compassionate conversation between a client and a health and social care practitioner focused on the client’s needs.”
This consultation will also be audio-recorded, although claimants can opt out of this.
Social Security Scotland explains that consultations will be recorded to make sure the health professional conducting it has noted everything claimants tell them.
It could also be handy to have a record of the conversation if an appeal against the decision is made.
The Scottish Government stated in a new impact assessment published in June that it is also “working to ensure that individual consultations are as transparent as possible”.
The publication explains: “We have also considered how informal observations should be applied in individual consultations.”
It states that practitioners will be provided with specific guidance, training and resources regarding informal observations.
“Individuals must also be made aware of what informal observations are, why they are being made, and the impact they will have,” the guidance said.
It goes on to say how all informal observations will also be made known to the individual so that they have the opportunity to challenge or comment on the observation.
It added: “This will provide a transparent consultation service by ensuring that individuals are aware of what is being reported and recorded.”
Adult Disability Payment rollout dates
- Applications now open - Dundee City, Perth and Kinross or the Western Isles
- Applications now open - Angus, North Lanarkshire or South Lanarkshire
- July 25 - Fife, Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Moray, North Ayrshire, East Ayrshire or South Ayrshire
- August 29 - if you live elsewhere in Scotland
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