Adult Disability Payment is a new health benefit which is replacing Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for people living in Scotland. The devolved benefit will provide financial support to people aged between 16 and State Pension age, who are disabled, have a long-term health condition or have a terminal illness.
People already receiving PIP and Disability Living Allowance (DLA) from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) do not need to apply for Adult Disability Payment. More than 313,620 existing awards will transfer automatically from the DWP to Social Security Scotland in stages and are 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 and other important information including how to ensure they continue to receive any other benefits. It also said that some changes may need to be reported to 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.
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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