Social Security Scotland recently announced work is underway to speed up processing times for Adult and Child Disability Payment applications, two new devolved benefits which have now replaced new claims for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Disability Living Allowance for Children (DLA for Child) for people living in Scotland.
Scotland’s devolved welfare agency said the “majority of people will receive a decision within four months” but added processing times can vary from a “few weeks to six months” in a small number of “very complex cases”. The current end-to-end processing time for PIP, delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is now 14 weeks.
New figures released by Social Security Scotland show that, “the median average processing time for applications has increased every month since the Adult Disability Payment national launch, from 45 working days in September 2022 to 79 working days in January 2023”.
Social Security Scotland has previously said some decisions are taking longer because new claimants have been unable to provide the supporting information needed to make a decision and asked Social Security Scotland to gather it for them. It said that collecting this information is a key difference between the Scottish system and the DWP.
It said: “No two applications are the same, and how long it takes to give people a decision will vary.” Social Security Scotland also said it does not carry out DWP-style assessments, aiming to make the right decision based on the application and supporting information.
However, it added that when it is the only way to make a decision, people applying for ADP are invited to a consultation with one of its in-house health or social care professionals who will “treat them with compassion and start from a position of trust”.
The new statistics also show in total, there were 19,930 applications processed with a decision made by January 31, 2023. Of these 60 per cent were authorised, 30 per cent were denied and 11 per cent were withdrawn.
By that same date, some 23,660 people were in receipt of ADP, a figure made up of 11,650 new applicants and 12,010 existing PIP claimants who have been transferred from DWP to the devolved payment.
The figures also show the percentage of claimants receiving the enhanced and standard awards for the daily living and mobility component.
It’s also worth nothing the largest number of applications came from the 55-64 age group (25%), followed by 20 per cent in each of the following age groups - 25-34, 35-44 and 45-54.
The processing times showed that of applications to receive a decision by the end of January 2023, just under three-in-five (57%) were processed in between 41 and 80 working days.
Eligibility for Adult Disability Payment is largely similar to PIP, however, a new guide has been published which could help people understand what information is and isn’t necessary to include on their application form.
The 'ADP application form and how to interpret it’ is designed to help case managers make consistent and fair determinations for all individuals applying for Adult Disability Payment.
The claim form consists of two parts:
- Part One - collects basic eligibility criteria which is required to determine eligibility
- Part Two - gathers more specific details about the claimant’s needs
This includes five key areas:
- The type of condition
- The potential length of the condition - is it likely to improve or deteriorate
- Common treatment pathways for the condition
- Common symptoms related to the condition and ranges of severity
- Areas of functional ability or parts of the body that may or may not be affected by the condition
The guidance goes into more detail for each section and gives example answers - not to be copied and pasted into a real application - which could help people who are unfamiliar with applying for disability assistance. One of the most important areas is on conditions, as this is the reason why you are applying for support in the first place.
This section includes details of:
- The approximate length of time you have been experiencing the condition(s)
- Any symptoms you are experiencing and the severity of these symptoms
- How often you experience symptoms
- Any treatment and / or care input you receive
The guidance also shares some condition specific examples including:
- Depression and anxiety
- Stroke
- Autism
You can view these online here.
Functional questions
The functional questions give you an opportunity to tell Social Security Scotland about how your condition or disability impacts you in their daily life.
A case manager will use this information to determine which descriptor to select for each of the daily living and mobility component activities There are 12 functional questions in the ADP application form which are similar to PIP.
Daily Living component questions
- Preparing food
- Taking nutrition
- Managing therapy or monitoring a health condition
- Washing and bathing
- Managing toilet needs or incontinence
- Dressing and undressing
- Communicating verbally
- Reading and understanding signs, symbols and words
- Engaging socially with other people face to face
- Making budgeting decisions
Mobility component questions
- Planning and following journeys
- Moving around
For every functional question you should give a detailed account of your ability to carry it out.
The guidance states that to make a fair and consistent decision, the case manager should consider the following information about an individual's functional ability:
- How are they currently completing the activity if at all
- Do they use any aids or appliances to complete the activity
- Do they need any assistance or support to complete the activity
- Do they need prompting to complete the activity
In all cases, the case manager must also consider:
- Are there any effects after completing the activity, for example fatigue or pain
- Are there any safety risks associated with completing the task
- How long does it take to complete the task
- If it is normal to do so would they be able to repeat the task
There are also detailed examples to give claimants a bit more clarity on what information is relevant and should be included, you can read full details here.
Adult Disability Payment rates
If you are awarded the Daily Living part you will be paid:
- £61.85 each week - for a standard award
- £92.40 each week - for an enhanced award
If you are awarded the mobility part you will be paid:
- £24.45 a week - for a standard award
- £64.50 a week - for an enhanced award
If you get an enhanced award for the mobility part, you can apply to lease an accessible vehicle - find out more here. If you are terminally ill you will automatically get the enhanced daily living award.
Who can apply for Adult Disability Payment?
You can apply for Adult Disability Payment if you have either a:
- disability or long-term physical or mental health condition
- terminal illness
Key points to note:
- You can still apply if you're waiting for a diagnosis
- You need to be between 16 and State Pension age
- You cannot get PIP and Adult Disability Payment at the same time
Check if you qualify for Adult Disability Payment
You can apply for Adult Disability Payment if you have a disability or long-term health condition that affects your everyday life. You can check if you meet the other requirements to qualify for Adult Disability Payment before you start an application.
Social Security Scotland will ask you questions about:
- where you live
- any restrictions on your right to live in the UK
- if you're on other benefits
- your age
At this stage, they will not ask about your disability or health condition.
How to apply for Adult Disability Payment
People can apply Adult Disability Payment online, over the phone, by post or in-person. To find out more or apply, visit the dedicated pages on mygov.scot here or call Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222.
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