The Scottish Government has paid £132.5 million to tens of thousands of families with disabled children or young people since a new devolved disability benefit launched in November 2021. The latest official figures from Social Security Scotland indicate that families of 54,735 children and young people were receiving Child Disability Payment by the end of December 2022.
The benefit replaced Disability Living Allowance for Children, which is delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), and helps cover the extra costs of caring for a child with a disability, long-term health condition or is terminally ill, up to the age of 18. People already receiving Disability Living Allowance for Children do not need to make a new application as Social Security Scotland will contact them ahead of their award being automatically transferred to the new welfare system.
A new nationwide campaign launched by the Scottish Government aims to raise awareness about financial support available for families of disabled youngsters and drive take-up of Child Disability Payment.
