The Scottish Government is reminding thousands of people on Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Disability Living Allowance (DLA) waiting to transfer from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) system to Social Security Scotland that they do not need to do anything. Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville reassured claimants that “there will not be any gaps or changes to your payments”.
The advice came after it was confirmed that Scotland’s devolved benefits agency has now taken control of more than 200,000 cases of disabled people from the UK Government. Figures released last month show 207,295 people were receiving Adult Disability Payments (ADP) from Social Security Scotland at the end of July.
A total of £1.57 billion has been paid out in ADP since it started replacing PIP in March 2022 and is a benefit designed to treat people with “dignity, fairness and respect”. Just over 2,000 of those transferred were receiving DLA for Adults.
The latest figures from the DWP show that 126,296 people in Scotland are still receiving PIP, however, all cases and DLA claimants are due to be transferred to the devolved payment by the end of 2025.
Commenting on the migration progress, Ms Somerville said: “This is an important milestone in the devolution of benefits to Scotland. People who received DWP benefits talked about the system being inhumane.
“They had experienced a system which did not get the decision right the first time and which involved degrading assessments run by private providers.
“That worry is over for many now as we have moved the awards of hundreds of thousands of people to our new system, where they can benefit from its founding principles of dignity, fairness and respect.”
The Social Justice Secretary added: “Adult Disability Payment was designed in partnership with disabled people to be better, fairer and easier to access. We are continuing to transfer the awards of disabled people from the DWP to our new system.
“If you are waiting to have your award transferred, please be assured that you do not need to do anything. The move will begin automatically and there will not be any gaps or changes to your payments.”
How to speed up new claims for ADP
Scotland’s welfare system is encouraging people to check for supporting information to include with their claim, which can help speed up the decision-making process.
Social Security Scotland said: “We need supporting information to help make the right decisions as quickly as we can on disability benefit applications. While we can source this information for clients, our research has found some people may have supporting information to hand but do not realise it.
“This might be because they don’t know what is useful to us or that supporting information can come from a range of professionals.”
It added, as an example, that if someone regularly sees a counsellor, physical therapist or support worker, they could be a better source of supporting information than a GP they may not have contacted for some time
Examples of supporting information include:
- care plans
- prescription lists
- a child’s additional support needs plan
- letters from a local authority outlining housing adaptations
- letters or a report from HR explaining workplace adjustments
- letters from teachers explaining what support the child needs at school
- referral letters to specialists (e.g. CAMHS)
Part two of the ADP application form asks about:
- your condition and how it affects your ability to look after yourself, understand information, and communicate with other people
- what help and support you need and why
- how you move around outdoors
- any medication, treatment or equipment you need
Official guidance on mygov.scot explains other information which could help support your answers in part two includes:
- information about your condition or your symptoms, if you’re still waiting for a diagnosis
- information about any medical tests you have had, and the results if you have them
- contact details for your GP
- contact details for anyone else who could give more information about your condition, such as a family member or someone who looks after you
More help about completing an application for Adult Disability Payment can be found on the Disability Rights UK website – a guide covering the whole application process can be downloaded for free here.
How to upload supporting documents online
For help submitting supporting documents online you can contact Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222. There is also an upload page on mygov.scot here with all the details and document formats you need to know.
The Scottish Government also announced earlier this year that third sector organisations are to be paid a fee for helping provide supporting information for people applying for Child Disability Payment or Adult Disability Payment. The £33.50 fee will be paid when they are asked by Social Security Scotland to complete a supporting information request form.
People who are applying for disability benefits who find it difficult or face barriers gathering supporting information themselves will be able to name organisations to provide this for them. These can include third sector organisations that are helping them in their day-to-day lives, such as those offering social care or support during an illness.
Collecting supporting information on behalf of people is one of the key differences in how people are encouraged and supported to apply for Scottish Government disability benefits. Supporting information request forms are completed to help understand how a person’s health condition or disability affects their lives and what support they need.
As well as information from health and social care professions, information could also come from charities and third sector organisations who support disabled people.
To get help completing an application form, you may also be able to use a free advocacy service – find out more here.