Latest news with #AdultDisabilityPayment
Daily Record
an hour ago
- Health
- Daily Record
How to speed up Adult Disability Payment award decision for a new claim
New figures from Social Security Scotland show that there are now 476,295 people in receipt of Adult Disability Payment (ADP). The data also shows that the average time to process a new claim for ADP is now 37 working days, just under eight weeks. This means people making a new claim before the end of this month could have an award decision before the end of August, although it's important to be aware that some applications can take shorter or longer to process. Many people thinking about making a new claim may not be aware that there are two parts to the ADP application process and that if you complete part two (the condition questionnaire) within eight weeks of the date you submitted part one (personal details, GP details, etc) and your claim is successful, payments will be backdated to that date. It's important to be aware that ADP is paid four weeks in arrears and that failing to submit the claim within the eight-week period may result in a different date of entitlement. Guidance from Social Security Scotland explains: 'An individual can begin an application either by phone or online. This is Part 1 of the application process. 'Once they have started, the individual has 8 weeks to return the completed Part 2 of the application in order to ensure their entitlement to Adult Disability Payment begins on the date they completed Part 1. 'If an application is submitted after the 8 week period, the date of their entitlement may be later, depending on whether they have good reason for having submitted it late e.g. they have been in hospital.' A successful new claim for the devolved payment is worth the same amount as its DWP counterpart, Personal Independence Payment (PIP). This means people over the age of 16 with a disability, long-term illness or physical or mental health condition could receive between £29.20 and £187.45 each week - paid every four weeks. ADP and PIP weekly payment rates Daily Living Component Standard rate: £73.90 Enhanced rate: £110.40 Mobility Component Standard rate: £29.20 Enhanced rate: £77.05 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 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 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. The process of requesting and giving equal consideration to supporting information from third sector organisations is not offered by the DWP in England and Wales to people applying for disability benefits including PIP, Attendance Allowance and Disability Living Allowance. Social Security Scotland said this is another example of how it is doing things differently to better support people applying for benefits. To get help completing an application form, you may also be able to use a free advocacy service - find out more here.
Scottish Sun
15 hours ago
- Health
- Scottish Sun
Major update on £450 a month benefit available to thousands of Scots
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE SCOTTISH Government has issued a major update on a £450 a month benefit that is available to thousands of adults. The Adult Disability Payment helps anyone who has a disability, terminal illness, or long-term health condition that affects their everyday life. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 Ministers have shared a major update on the benefit Credit: Getty It is open to Scots aged between 16 and state pension age, and the payment is made up of two parts. These are daily living and mobility, and people may qualify for one or both parts. Scots may qualify for the daily living part if you need help with things like preparing food, taking nutrition (eating and drinking), managing therapy or monitoring a health condition and washing and bathing. While the mobility part refers to whether you need help with planning and following a journey or moving around. Depending on which parts you qualify for, you could get anywhere between £116.80 and £441.60 a month. But now, the SNP has vowed not to cut the payment as Labour announced plans to slash overall welfare payments. It comes as ministers look to cut the increasing welfare bill by clawing back billions of pounds of benefits. On Wednesday, the UK Government revealed its plans to slash benefits further in the House of Commons. The new plans will see changes made to a number of different benefits - including personal independence payment (PIP) and universal credit. The criteria for PIP is expected to become stricter, while those on UC will see the sickness-related element cut. Millions hit by benefit cuts as Rachel Reeves warns 'if you can work, you should work!' in bid to fix 'broken system' UC will also not be issued to anyone until they reach 22 years of age. Most Scots who claim sickness benefits do so through the Adult Disability Payment, which is devolved, rather than through PIP. But the cuts mean that there is likely to be less money available for Scottish benefits. However, Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville promised that the Scottish Government "will not let disabled people down or cast them aside", according to the Daily Record. She said: "The reforms do not reflect the Scottish Government's values. "We will not let disabled people down or cast them aside as the UK Government has done. We will not cut Scotland's Adult Disability Payment. 'The UK Government should follow our lead and protect the social security safety system, rather than dismantling it. "If they do not, then disabled people can draw no other conclusion than the UK Government remain content to balance the books on the backs of the most vulnerable.' Ms Somerville also called the UK Government's plans "hugely damaging" to struggling adults, especially during the current cost of living crisis. Who can apply for Adult Disability Payment YOU must be between 16 and State Pension age to apply for this benefit. You may qualify for the daily living part if you need help with: preparing food taking nutrition (eating and drinking) managing therapy or monitoring a health condition washing and bathing managing toilet needs or incontinence dressing and undressing communicating verbally reading and understanding signs, symbols and words engaging socially with other people face to face making budgeting decisions You may qualify for the mobility part if you need help with planning and following a journey or moving around. Do not apply if you get Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for adults. You would get these from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). You can apply for Adult Disability Payment if you: live in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Gibraltar have spent a major part of your life in Scotland You need to apply for Adult Disability Payment even if you get Child Disability Payment. You can apply any time from when you are 15, soon to turn 16, until your 18th birthday. If your application is successful, you will not have any gaps between payments. Branding it a "damaging policy", she said, "I strongly urge them to scrap their harmful proposals." She added: "With around half of all children in poverty in Scotland living in a household with a disabled person, the changes threaten to undermine the progress that we are making to reduce child poverty, and the work of the UK Government's Child Poverty Taskforce. 'That the UK Government is prioritising deep cuts to disabled people's support is made even worse by their failure to abolish the two-child limit, which is estimated to have pushed more than 35,000 children into poverty since July last year." UK Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall told the Daily Record: 'Our social security system is at a crossroads. Unless we reform it, more people will be denied opportunities, and it may not be there for those who need it. 'This legislation represents a new social contract and marks the moment we take the road of compassion, opportunity and dignity. 'This will give people peace of mind, while also fixing our broken social security system so it supports those who can work to do so while protecting those who cannot – putting welfare spending on a more sustainable path to unlock growth as part of our Plan for Change.'
Daily Record
21 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Record
New PIP claims worth up to £187 every week could help people with these health issues
PIP and Adult Disability Payment are providing financial support for 3.7 million people across Great Britain. Personal Independence Payment (PIP) - information The latest figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show there are now over 3.7 million people across Great Britain receiving additional financial support through Personal Independence Payment (PIP). Similarly, data published by Social Security Scotland this week indicates over 476,200 people are now receiving Adult Disability Payment (ADP), the devolved benefit which has replaced PIP north of the border. Over the 2025/26 financial year, PIP and ADP will provide weekly support of between £29.20 and £187.45, some £116.80 or £749.80 every four-week pay period. Both disability benefits are designed to help with the additional costs of living with a disability, long-term illness, or physical or mental health condition. Many people may be unaware that PIP and ADP can provide support for over 530 health conditions. Both benefits could help people with daily living tasks or moving around, or both. However, it would not be beneficial to list all 536 conditions recorded by DWP during the PIP application process as an award for the disability benefit is determined by how a person's health condition affects their ability to perform daily living tasks such as cooking, washing, eating, dressing and engaging with other people in a safe and timely way. There are also awards to help if you have difficulty moving around. This means that every claim for PIP or ADP is unique for each applicant, which could also help people thinking about making a new claim to start the process. Below is a full overview of PIP and ADP, including the five most-claimed conditions and the main disabling conditions, as classified by the DWP. PIP cannot be backdated, but payments start from the date the claim was submitted, to cover the handling time at the DWP. Total number of categories, recorded by DWP: Disability category - 21 Disability Sub Group - 178 Disability - 536 Five most-claimed PIP health conditions The five most commonly recorded disabling conditions for claims under normal rules are: Psychiatric disorder - 39% of claims Musculoskeletal disease (general) - 19% of claims Neurological disease - 13% of claims Musculoskeletal disease (regional) - 12% of claims Respiratory disease - 4% of claims PIP and ADP provide weekly support of between £29.20 and £187.45, some £116.80 or £749.80 every four-week pay period. Both disability benefits are designed to help people with the additional costs of living with a disability, long-term illness, or physical or mental health condition. Many people may be unaware that PIP and ADP can provide support for hundreds of health conditions. Both benefits could help people with daily living tasks or moving around, or both. However, it would not be beneficial to list all 536 conditions recorded by DWP during the PIP application process as an award for the disability benefit is determined by how a person's health condition affects their ability to perform daily living tasks such as cooking, washing, eating, dressing and engaging with other people in a safe and timely way. There are also awards to help if you have difficulty moving around. This means that every claim for PIP or ADP is unique for each applicant, which could also help people thinking about making a new claim to start the process. Below is a full overview of PIP and ADP, including the five most-claimed conditions and the main disabling conditions, as classified by the DWP. PIP cannot be backdated, but payments start from the date the claim was submitted, to cover the handling time at the DWP. Disabling conditions recorded by DWP These are the main disability categories, the umbrella term by which more than 530 other conditions fall under. This list is only an overview of conditions, disorders and diseases and how the DWP lists the main disabilities being claimed for. Haematological Disease Infectious disease Malignant disease Metabolic disease Psychiatric disorders Neurological disease Visual disease Hearing disorders Cardiovascular disease Gastrointestinal disease Diseases of the liver, gallbladder, biliary tract Skin disease Musculoskeletal disease (general) Musculoskeletal disease (regional) Autoimmune disease (connective tissue disorders) Genitourinary disease Endocrine disease Respiratory disease Multisystem and extremes of age Diseases of the immune system Unknown or missing Below is an overview of PIP and ADP. Even though new claims for PIP have been replaced in Scotland by ADP, it shares most of the same eligibility criteria. Full guidance on ADP can be found on the website here. Who might be eligible for PIP or ADP? To be eligible for PIP or ADP, you must have a health condition or disability where you: have had difficulties with daily living or getting around (or both) for 3 months expect these difficulties to continue for at least 9 months You usually need to have lived in the UK for at least two of the last three years and be in the country when you apply. In addition to what we have outlined above, if you get or need help with any of the following because of your condition, you should consider applying for PIP or ADP. preparing, cooking or eating food managing your medication washing, bathing or using the toilet dressing and undressing engaging and communicating with other people reading and understanding written information making decisions about money planning a journey or following a route moving around There are different rules if you are terminally ill, you will find these on the website here. DWP or Social Security Scotland will assess how difficult you find daily living and mobility tasks. For each task they will look at: whether you can do it safely how long it takes you how often your condition affects this activity whether you need help to do it, from a person or using extra equipment How are PIP and ADP paid? PIP and ADP are usually paid every four weeks unless you are terminally ill, in which case it is paid weekly. It will be paid directly into your bank, building society or credit union account. ADP is paid at the same rates as PIP. PIP and ADP payment rates 2025/26 You will need an assessment to work out the level of financial help you will receive and your rate will be regularly reviewed to make sure you are getting the right support. Payments are made every four weeks. PIP is made up of two components: Daily living Mobility Whether you get one or both of these and how much depends on how severely your condition affects you. You will be paid the following amounts per week depending on your circumstances: Daily living Standard rate: £73.90 Enhanced rate: £110.40 Mobility Standard rate: £29.20 Enhanced rate: £77.05 How you are assessed You will be assessed by an independent healthcare professional to help the DWP determine the level of financial support, if any, you need, for PIP. Face-to-face consultations for health-related benefits are offered alongside video calls, telephone and paper-based assessments - it's important to be aware that the health professional and DWP determine which type of assessment is best suited for each claimant. You can find out more about DWP PIP assessments here. Adult Disability Payment assessments will not involve face-to-face assessments, unless this is preferred by the claimant - find out more about the changes here. How do you make a claim for PIP? You can make a new claim by contacting the DWP, you will find all the information you need to apply on the website here. Before you call, you will need: your contact details your date of birth your National Insurance number - this is on letters about tax, pensions and benefits your bank or building society account number and sort code your doctor or health worker's name, address and telephone number dates and addresses for any time you've spent abroad, in a care home or hospital How to apply for ADP People can apply for ADP, over the phone, by post or in-person. To find out more or apply, visit the dedicated pages on here or call Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222.
Daily Record
a day ago
- Politics
- Daily Record
New welfare reforms update for people on Adult Disability Payment
The DWP is set to transfer PIP eligibility and assessments from November next year. The Scottish Government has announced it will not mirror the planned changes to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in Adult Disability Payment (ADP). The latest Social Security Scotland figures show that at the end of April there were 476,295 people receiving financial support of up to £187.45 per week through the devolved disability benefit. Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville has urged the UK Government to protect and enhance social security rather than making UK Government published the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill on Wednesday, which includes the details of the first set of changes to ill-health and disability benefits. The Bill will provide 13-weeks of additional financial security to existing claimants affected by changes to the PIP daily living component, including those who lose eligibility to Carers Allowance and the carer's element of Universal Credit. Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: 'The UK Government's proposed reforms will be hugely damaging to those who rely on social security support, particularly during the ongoing cost of living crisis. These plans have yet to be passed at Westminster, so there is still time for the UK Government to step back from this damaging policy and I strongly urge them to scrap their harmful proposals. 'The UK Government's own analysis highlights how the proposals will push 250,000 more people across the UK into poverty - including 50,000 children. With around half of all children in poverty in Scotland living in a household with a disabled person, the changes threaten to undermine the progress that we are making to reduce child poverty, and the work of the UK Government's Child Poverty Taskforce. 'That the UK Government is prioritising deep cuts to disabled people's support is made even worse by their failure to abolish the two-child limit, which is estimated to have pushed more than 35,000 children into poverty since July last year.' She added: 'The reforms do not reflect the Scottish Government's values. We will not let disabled people down or cast them aside as the UK Government has done. We will not cut Scotland's Adult Disability Payment. 'The UK Government should follow our lead and protect the social security safety system, rather than dismantling it. If they do not, then disabled people can draw no other conclusion than the UK Government remain content to balance the books on the backs of the most vulnerable.' Proposed PIP changes and online consultation Proposed package of reforms to overhaul the welfare system, include: Ending reassessments for disabled people who will never be able to work and people with lifelong conditions to ensure they can live with dignity and security. Scrapping the Work Capability Assessment to end the process that drives people into dependency, delivering on the UK Government's manifesto commitment to reform or replace it. Providing improved employment support backed by £1 billion including new tailored support conversations for people on health and disability benefits to break down barriers and unlock work. Legislating to protect those on health and disability benefits from reassessment or losing their payments if they take a chance on work. To ensure the welfare system is available for those with the greatest needs now and in the future, the UK Government has made decisions to improve its sustainability and protect those who need it most. These include: Reintroducing reassessments for people on incapacity benefits who have the capability to work to ensure they have the right support and are not written off. Targeting PIP for those with higher needs by changing the eligibility requirement to a minimum score of four on at least one of the daily living activities to receive the daily living element of the benefit, in addition to the existing eligibility criteria. Rebalancing payment levels in Universal Credit to improve the Standard Allowance. Consulting on delaying access to the health element of Universal Credit until someone is aged 22 and reinvesting savings into work support and training opportunities through the Youth Guarantee. DWP also launched an online consultation on the new proposals to coincide with the publication of the Green paper. The consultation can be completed by anyone and is open until June 30, 2025 - you can find full details on here.
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Record
SNP Government promises not to cut Adult Disability Payment after UK benefit changes
Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said the Scottish Government "will not let disabled people down or cast them aside". The SNP Government has promised not to cut the Adult Disability Payment (ADP) after Labour published its plans to slash welfare. Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said the Scottish Government "will not let disabled people down or cast them aside". The UK Government published its plans to cut benefits in the House of Commons on Wednesday afternoon. Somerville said: 'The reforms do not reflect the Scottish Government's values. We will not let disabled people down or cast them aside as the UK Government has done. We will not cut Scotland's Adult Disability Payment. 'The UK Government should follow our lead and protect the social security safety system, rather than dismantling it. If they do not, then disabled people can draw no other conclusion than the UK Government remain content to balance the books on the backs of the most vulnerable.' The UK Government's bill will tighten the criteria for personal independence payment (PIP) as well as cut the sickness-related element of universal credit (UC) and delay access to those aged 22 and over. The vast majority of people in Scotland on sickness benefits are on the devolved ADP rather than PIP. But the cuts mean Scotland is likely to be have less money available. Somerville added: "The UK Government's proposed reforms will be hugely damaging to those who rely on social security support, particularly during the ongoing cost of living crisis. "These plans have yet to be passed at Westminster, so there is still time for the UK Government to step back from this damaging policy and I strongly urge them to scrap their harmful proposals. 'The UK Government's own analysis highlights how the proposals will push 250,000 more people across the UK into poverty - including 50,000 children. "With around half of all children in poverty in Scotland living in a household with a disabled person, the changes threaten to undermine the progress that we are making to reduce child poverty, and the work of the UK Government's Child Poverty Taskforce. 'That the UK Government is prioritising deep cuts to disabled people's support is made even worse by their failure to abolish the two-child limit, which is estimated to have pushed more than 35,000 children into poverty since July last year." The Labour Government is set for a stand-off with its own MPs over the cuts, with many opposing them. UK Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said: 'Our social security system is at a crossroads. Unless we reform it, more people will be denied opportunities, and it may not be there for those who need it. 'This legislation represents a new social contract and marks the moment we take the road of compassion, opportunity and dignity. 'This will give people peace of mind, while also fixing our broken social security system so it supports those who can work to do so while protecting those who cannot – putting welfare spending on a more sustainable path to unlock growth as part of our Plan for Change.'
