Adult Disability Payment has started to replace Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for new claimants in 13 council areas across Scotland. The launch of the new benefit means that people of working age with a disability, long-term illness or physical or mental health condition, living in these areas can now apply for disability assistance to Social Security Scotland instead of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
Social Security Scotland recently announced that it “will never use the private sector to carry out health assessments and there won’t be any degrading functional examinations such as asking a client to ‘touch their toes’,” and that new claimants could have an award decision letter within 10 weeks of applying for the benefit. However, this will only be possible if they have received your completed application and all the information they need to make a decision.
By comparison, the latest figures released by the DWP show that the end-to-end turnaround time for new PIP applications is around 20 weeks.
The guidelines state: “Social Security Scotland aim to make a decision in 8 to 10 weeks, after getting your completed application and all the information they need to make a decision.”
However, if you have a terminal illness, they aim to make a decision within seven working days.
Social Security Scotland is also warning first-time claimants that the processing time may take longer due to “high demand” for the new benefit.
It said: “As Adult Disability Payment is a new service, some processes may take longer. Processing applications can also take longer because of high demand.”
And you won’t receive an Award Letter to tell you about the outcome, it’s been replaced by a “notice of determination”, which is essentially the same principle as the PIP Award Letter as it will tell you whether your claim was successful or not and how much you will be paid.
What the decision letter will tell you
If your application is successful, the letter will tell you:
- which parts of Adult Disability Payment you will get - daily living, mobility, or a combination of both
- how much you will get for each part
- If your application is not successful, the letter will tell you why
How are claims assessed?
Social Security Scotland uses a points scoring system across 12 activities for the daily living and mobility parts. Each activity has a list of options. These options are descriptions for different levels of need.
One of these options is chosen for each activity based on Social Security Scotland’s understanding of your needs. You then score the points that are linked to that description.
Your decision letter will include a list of the points awarded for each of the 12 activities, and explain why you were awarded these points.
Social Security Scotland have also created a handy tool which allows you check if you qualify for Adult Disability Payment - you can use it here.
You can find out more about Adult Disability Payment, or apply online here.
Adult Disability Payment rates
Adult Disability Payment is made up of two parts:
Daily living
Mobility
Whether you get one or both of these and how much depends on how severely your condition affects you.
You could be paid the following amounts per week depending on your circumstances:
Daily living
Standard rate: £61.85
Enhanced rate: £92.40
Mobility
Standard rate: £24.45
Enhanced rate: £64.50
Adult Disability Payment rollout
A phased launch of the new support payment has now been completed and it will rollout nationwide on August 29.
You do not need to apply for Adult Disability Payment if you already get PIP or Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for adults from the DWP. Case transfers started on June 13 and existing claimants will be contacted in writing advising them of the move which takes around three months - there will be no interruption or changes to payments.
Adult Disability Payment is now available in:
- Dundee City
- Perth and Kinross
- Western Isles
- Angus
- North Lanarkshire
- South Lanarkshire
- Fife
- Aberdeen City
- Aberdeenshire
- Moray
- North Ayrshire,
- East Ayrshire
- South Ayrshire
If you live anywhere elsie in Scotland, you can apply for the new payment from August 29.
Check online 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 also check if you meet the other requirements to qualify for Adult Disability Payment before you start an application.
The simple online tool asks questions about:
- where you live
- any restrictions on your right to live in the UK
- if you're on other benefits
- your age
You will not be asked about your disability or health condition.
If you do not qualify for Adult Disability Payment, the Social Security Scotland tool will tell you what other benefits you may be able to claim.
Check if you qualify for Adult Disability Payment here.
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