Phased Rollout Reaches Angus
People living in Angus can now apply for Adult Disability Payment.
The new Scottish Government benefit replaces the UK Government’s Personal Independence Payment. It provides 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.
Adult Disability Payment is being introduced in pilot areas ahead of opening nationwide on 29 August. It was first successfully introduced in Perth, Dundee and the Western Isles in March, and further council areas will be introduced in July.
People already receiving Personal Independence Payment and Disability Living Allowance do not need to make an application for Adult Disability Payment. These existing awards will transfer automatically from the DWP to Social Security Scotland.
Cases will transfer in stages starting from this summer, and this process is expected to be completed by the end of 2025. Over 300,000 people will be part of the case transfer from Personal Independence Payment to Adult Disability Payment.
– Graeme
This latest phase of the rollout of Adult Disability Payment is an important step forward, and obviously it is welcome that Angus is included at this stage.
While those already in receipt of the existing UK Government payments need not apply, I would encourage new applications from any eligible constituents – and would urge anyone unsure to check their eligibility.
The development of the Adult Disability Payment, as with the rest of Social Security Scotland’s payments, has been informed by those with lived experience of the existing UK system and its many flaws.
As the most complex devolved benefit to be introduced by the Scottish Government, its full rollout by the end of the summer will represent a major milestone in the delivery of a better social security system for Scotland.
More pilot areas have been added to our phased roll out of Adult Disability Payment.
People who live in @AngusCouncil @nlcpeople or @SouthLanCouncil and do not already get Personal Independence Payment (PIP) can now apply.
Find out more: https://t.co/uvEdT9hwLV pic.twitter.com/NF68tHIw6Q
— Social Security Scotland (@SocSecScot) June 20, 2022
– Minister for Social Security, Ben Macpherson
We are taking a positive, responsible and compassionate approach to delivering disability benefits, centred around our principles of dignity, fairness and respect. Adult Disability Payment is the twelfth Scottish benefit to be introduced, and without doubt the most complex.
People can apply for Adult Disability Payment in the way that suits them best. As well as online and over the phone, local delivery staff can provide pre-application advice and encourage people to take up their entitlements. I encourage those who think they could be eligible to check and apply.
We would urge people who think that they may need additional support in applying, as well as with re‑determinations and appeals, to consider using VoiceAbility, an independent advocacy service that we are funding.
Our approach to delivering disability benefits has been designed with people with lived experience of disability benefits, and we are taking a different approach to that of the UK Government. People will be treated with dignity and respect and we will start from a position of trust. There will be no private sector assessors and clients will be given greater choice to help them, including times and locations of meetings, with home visits available.
Background
- For more information on how our benefit will be delivered differently click here.
- Phase Three of the Adult Disability Payment pilot will be introduced in Fife, the City of Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Moray, North Ayrshire, East Ayrshire and South Ayrshire from 25th July 2022.
- Around 39,000 people are currently in receipt of Working Age Disability Living Allowance. Where someone reports a relevant change, or if their award is due to be renewed or they request to transfer, their case will be transferred to Adult Disability Payment on a like-for-like basis once Adult Disability Payment is nationwide at the end of August. Their award will then be reviewed in line with the usual Adult Disability Payment rules after the transfer completes.
- A new definition of terminal illness has been introduced, removing the time requirement that a person must reasonably be expected to die within six months. Instead, the clinical judgement of doctors and registered nurses involved in the individual’s care will be used. The Scottish Government will make sure that people get the highest rate of payments as quickly as possible.
- The advocacy service provided by VoiceAbility is entirely independent of the Scottish Government and Social Security Scotland. This can be accessed by contacting VoiceAbility directly for free on 0300 303 1660 or by visiting voiceability.org
