The Scottish Government has announced that £132.5 million has been paid to tens of thousands of families with disabled children since a new devolved disability benefit launched in November 2021. The latest official figures from Social Security Scotland show that families of 54,735 children and young people were receiving Child Disability Payment by the end of December last year.
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 IT system.
This is happening in a phased approach and transfer of all cases is set to be completed in the coming months.
Some 940 appeals, known as ‘re-determinations’ by Social Security Scotland, have been received, the vast majority of which result in a full or partial award from the agency.
The figures show 730 re-determinations were allowed or partially allowed - 85 per cent of all those lodged - while 95 were disallowed and 30 were deemed to be ‘invalid’.
Social security minister Ben Macpherson described the amount paid out by the agency as “welcome news”.
He said: ““Child Disability Payment helps parents to support their children and assists young people to live their lives to the fullest.
“Therefore, it is welcome news that, so far, more than £130 million in Child Disability Payments has been distributed to thousands of families with disabled children, to help cover extra costs.
“New applications are increasing, and Social Security Scotland is working to process these as quickly as they can, while seeking to ensure that right decisions are made first time.
“We are only being asked to look again at decisions in a very small proportion of cases.
“The process of transferring people’s awards from the DWP’s Disability Living Allowance for children to our Child Disability Payment is also continuing at pace, and on course to be almost entirely complete in the Spring.”
He added: “The Scottish social security system has been designed in partnership with those who have experience of applying for benefits previously. This has helped us to build a system that is easier to access, and where people are treated with dignity, fairness and respect.
“I urge anyone who thinks they, their child or someone they know may be eligible for Scottish Government benefits to check and apply.”
Scottish Child Disability Payment rates
Child Disability Payment rates are the same as Disability Living Allowance for Children.
These payments are worth between £24.45 and £156.90 each week. The support is paid every four weeks and is worth up to £627.60.
Care Component
- Highest: £92.40 (£101.75 from April)
- Middle: £61.85 (£68.10 from April)
- Lowest: £24.45 (£26.90 from April)
Mobility component
- Higher: £64.50 (£71.00 from April)
- Lower: £24.45 (£26.90 from April)
How to apply for Child Disability Payment
People can apply for Child Disability Payment online, over the phone, by post or in-person.
You can find out more and apply through mygov.scot or by calling Social Security Scotland free on 0800 182 2222.
To keep up to date with the latest benefits news, join our Money Saving Scotland Facebook page here, or subscribe to our newsletter which goes out daily, Monday to Friday - sign up here.
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