Adult Disability Payment and Child Disability Payment are new health benefits replacing Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Disability Living Allowance for Children (DLA for Child) for people living in Scotland. The devolved benefits will provide financial support for young children and those between 16 and State Pension age, who are disabled, have a long-term health condition or a terminal illness.
People already receiving PIP and DLA for Child from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) do not need to apply for Adult Disability Payment or Child Disability Payment, as the migration will be automatic. Case transfers from DWP to the Social Security Scotland IT system are being carried out in stages with PIP transfers expected to be completed by the end of 2025.
It will take approximately three months to transfer someone’s award to the devolved welfare system and Social Security Scotland said it will write to people to inform them when to expect their first Adult Disability Payment or Child Disability Payment along with other important information including how to ensure they continue to receive any other benefits from DWP or HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
Guidance on mygov.scot explains that if you get other benefits or services related to your disability payment, you will need to tell each organisation about the move to Social Security Scotland.
The three-month window between notification of a case transfer should be enough time to report the change to the relevant department to ensure a smooth transition with no breaks in payments. Below is an overview of who you need to contact, full details are on mygov.scot, here.
When to contact your local council
You need to contact your local council to tell them about the move if you get:
- Housing Benefit
- Council Tax Reduction
- Council Tax Exemption
When to contact DWP
The guidance also states that you also need to contact the DWP to tell them about the move if you get:
- Universal Credit
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
- Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
- Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
It states: “You can do this by reporting a change of circumstances on each benefit that you get.”
When to contact HMRC
You only need to contact HMRC if your disability payment rate has changed during the move and you get either:
- Child Tax Credit
- Working Tax Credit
Carer’s Allowance
If you get Child Disability Payment, and your carer gets Carer’s Allowance, you do not need to contact anyone. The DWP will share this information with the Carer's Allowance Unit.
If you get Adult Disability Payment, and your carer gets Carer’s Allowance, you need to contact the Carer’s Allowance Unit. You should let them know that your disability payment has moved to Social Security Scotland as this information will not be shared automatically.
You can contact the Carer’s Allowance Unit via GOV.UK, here.
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