Latest news with #ChildDisabilityPayment
Daily Record
7 days ago
- General
- Daily Record
People making a new claim for Adult Disability Payment could also be due extra benefits
New claims for the devolved disability benefit are currently taking an average of 42 working days to process. The latest figures from Social Security Scotland show that there are currently 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 September, although it's important to be aware that some applications can take shorter or longer to process. However, many new ADP claimants may not be aware a successful award can also open the door to additional benefit top-ups, help with housing costs, Council Tax and travel - the extra support is also available for people on Personal Independence Payment (PIP), those on Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Child Disability Payment. A full guide to all the extra support and financial benefits is available on here. Below is a summary of what your disability benefit claim could also entitle you to - you can also contact your local council and ask if they can check entitlement for you. Extra support for disability benefit claimants Guidance on explains: "You might be able to get extra support if you get Adult Disability Payment from Social Security Scotland." These are called related benefits. These can help: with living costs with travel and transport if you are on a low income It's important to be aware you need to make a claim for the additional support, it isn't applied automatically with a disability benefit award. Guidance on states: 'You, or someone responsible for you, can apply for them. The rates of your disability payment will have an effect on what you can apply for." Help if you are on a low income You could get extra help if you or someone who lives with you gets either: Child Disability Payment Adult Disability Payment Pension Age Disability Payment Scottish Adult Disability Payment (Scottish Adult DLA) The guidance urges people to "try to apply as soon as you can" and continues "organisations may not be able to backdate payments if you wait too long. You could miss out on some of the extra support you're entitled to". However, it also warns: "Some benefits and services can affect other payments you may get. To find out what's best for you and your household, ask local support services for help with benefits." Employment support You might be able to get a higher payment (or a premium) from the DWP if you get a devolved disability payment and claim any of these benefits: Universal Credit Pension Credit Income Support Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) Housing Benefit Guidance states: 'You should contact the DWP to tell them about your disability benefit. If you're eligible, you'll get an extra amount on top of your normal payment, known as a disability premium. 'You'll continue to get your usual disability payment from Social Security Scotland.' Just be aware contacting DWP may trigger a change in circumstances for any current benefits you are receiving, so ask an advisor first. Support for carers Carer Support Payment If you get any of these benefits, your carer can apply for Carer Support Payment: Adult Disability Payment - standard or enhanced daily living rate Child Disability Payment - middle or highest care rate Pension Age Disability Payment - any rate Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance - middle or highest care rate Carer Support Payment has replaced Carer's Allowance in Scotland - find out more here. If you are not eligible for Carer Support Payment, you may be able to apply for Carer's Credit - find out more here. If your carer gets Carer Support Payment or Carer's Allowance, it can affect other benefits that you get. For more information before applying, speak to a Social Security Scotland adviser - contact details here. Young carers If your carer is aged 16, 17 or 18, they might be able to apply for Young Carer Grant - find out more here. Help with housing costs You could get a higher rate of payment from your local council if you already get Housing Benefit. This is an extra amount on top of your normal Housing Benefit payment, known as a disability premium. You may also be able to apply for a Council Tax Reduction - this includes discounts of up to 100% on your Council Tax Bill and may be available even if your bill is already reduced. Social Security Scotland advises you should contact your local council to tell them about your disability payment and ask about help with housing costs. Help with transport and travel You could get help with transport and travel costs if you get one of the following: Adult Disability Payment Child Disability Payment Pension Age Disability Payment Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance (Scottish Adult DLA) Car travel If you get either: Child Disability Payment - higher rate mobility component Adult Disability Payment - enhanced rate mobility component Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance (higher rate mobility) You could apply for: an accessible vehicle or equipment lease vehicle tax exemption (free road tax) a provisional driving licence early at age of 16 You, or your nominated driver, can apply for a 50 per cent vehicle tax reduction if you get the standard rate mobility component of Adult Disability Payment. Bus travel You can apply for a disabled person's bus pass which allows you to travel by bus for free within Scotland. If you get Child Disability Payment, you must have either the: higher rate mobility component middle or highest rate care component You can apply if you get any rate of Adult Disability Payment. A companion can also travel with you for free on the bus if you get either: Child Disability Payment - middle or highest rate care component Adult Disability Payment - standard or enhanced rate daily living component Blue Badge You or your nominated driver can apply for a Blue Badge parking permit which costs £20 and is valid for three years in Scotland. If you get Child Disability Payment, you must have the higher rate mobility component. If you get Adult Disability Payment, you must have either: 8 points or more in the moving around activity 12 points in the planning and following a journey activity enhanced rate mobility awarded under special rules for terminal illness You may still be able to apply if you do not have any of the above but you do have a medical condition that affects your mobility. Full details about Adult Disability Payment or Child Disability Payment can be found on the website, here.
Daily Record
21-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Record
Top tips to help people making a new claim for devolved disability benefits
To help people thinking about making a new claim for devolved disability benefits, Social Security Scotland has shared a list of essential need-to-knows, which could help make it easier to understand the process, be aware of what information they should supply and additional help to make an application. Social Security Scotland administers and delivers Adult Disability Payment (ADP), Child Disability Payment (CDP) and Pension Age Disability Payment (PADP), devolved benefits which can provide additional financial support to people with a disability, long-term illness, or physical or mental health condition. These benefits have replaced all new claims for three disability benefits delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) - Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance for Children (DLA for Children) and Attendance Allowance. Devolved disability benefits Adult Disability Payment Adult Disability Payment is extra money to help you if you have a disability or long-term health condition that affects your everyday life. The benefit is made up of two parts - a daily living and mobility component - you might qualify for one or both parts. The amount you receive depends on how your condition affects your ability to do everyday activities and get around. 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 Child Disability Payment Child Disability Payment provides support for the extra costs that a disabled child might have. You can apply for Child Disability Payment for a child under 16 with a mental or physical disability. You can also apply for Child Disability Payment if the disabled child does not have a diagnosis. In such cases, you can tell Social Security Scotland about: how they are affected any symptoms they may have Child Disability Payment is tax-free and made up of two components - care and mobility. You will be paid the following amounts per week depending on your circumstances: Care Lowest rate: £29.20 Middle rate: £73.90 Highest rate: £110.40 Mobility Lower rate: £29.20 Higher rate: £77.05 Pension Age Disability Payment Pension Age Disability Payment can give you extra money if you have care needs because of a disability or long-term health condition and have reached State Pension age. Pension Age Disability Payment is tax-free and made up of two different rates. It's important to be aware there is no mobility component. You will be paid the following amounts per week depending on your circumstances: Lower rate: £73.90 Higher rate: £110.40 Social Security Scotland tips for new claimants Apply the way that suits you best Social Security Scotland offers people multiple ways to apply for its benefits. Applications can be made online, by post, by phone or in-person through advisors based in local communities across Scotland. A dedicated fast-track route is available to people who are terminally ill to make it easier and quicker for them to get the money they're entitled to. Full details on how to contact Social Security Scotland can be found here. Provide as much detail as possible People qualify for Adult Disability Payment, Child Disability Payment or Pension Age Disability Payment based on the impact of their condition on their daily needs. Social security Scotland said: "It's vital that everyone applying for support explains in detail how their disability or condition affects their life." The application can be completed in stages - there's no need to do it all at once. Be open about your condition Social security Scotland explained: "Many people find it difficult to focus on the things they or their child cannot do because of their disability or health condition. "However, it's important people are open with us about the challenges they face. . Without a full picture of the issues someone is dealing with, Social Security Scotland may not be able to award them the money they are entitled to." Provide supporting information Social Security Scotland need supporting information from a professional, like a doctor, physiotherapist, or social worker, before they can make a decision on a disability benefit application. People often have supporting information they can share include with their application such as care plans, medical reports and prescription lists. Sharing this with Social Security Scotland can also help speed up the application process. Social Security Scotland said that it can collect supporting information on someone's behalf if they do not have any. This can take a bit of time, but is a vital service for many people. Full details on supporting information to include can be found here. Get help to apply Free help to apply for benefits is available from many sources. Social Security Scotland can support people to apply over the phone on 0800 182 2222 or via webchat. In-person help is available from the organisation's local advisors who are based in communities across Scotland. Get in touch with Social Security Scotland to request an appointment. Support is also available from an advocate from VoiceAbility. The independent advocacy charity is funded by the Scottish Government to support disabled people throughout the process of applying for benefits from Social Security Scotland. VoiceAbility can be contacted on 0800 182 2222 Organisations including Citizens Advice Scotland, Macmillan Cancer Support, Age Scotland and local authority welfare rights teams can also help. More information on additional support can be found here.
The National
03-07-2025
- Health
- The National
UK Government 'must take Scottish approach to disability payments'
Welcome to this week's Branch Office Updates! Subscribe (for free) by clicking on the linked banner above. A PROMINENT disability campaigner has called for the UK Labour Government to take the 'more humane' approach Scotland is taking with disability payments. It comes after the Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill passed its first hurdle on Tuesday. When the legislation was first announced, it included measures to limit eligibility for Pip, the main disability benefit in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and freeze the health-related element of universal credit. But a huge backbench rebellion saw the changes to Pip stripped from the legislation with a review commissioned. The so-called Timms review is expected to report next autumn after consulting with the disabled community and stakeholders. READ MORE: Faslane nuclear base radioactive secrets to be released after FoI battle That same day, Marylynne Hunter – an ex-Labour member and activist who resigned in March – told The National that she received a call from Social Security Scotland, who administers the devolved Adult Disability Payment (ADP) and Child Disability Payment. Her daughter Freya has severe complex health problems and disabilities, is non-verbal and blind and requires full-time oxygen and at-home nursing care. 'The guy from Social Security Scotland was amazing. They actually spoke to me with dignity and respect,' she said. 'And I was part of those consultations way back with (former minister for equalities) Jeane Freeman in the Scottish Parliament talking about the way in which you're spoken to by people down in Westminster sometimes before it was devolved and it could be quite distressing.' Hunter added: 'But this guy was brilliant. The dignity and respect part is there, you know, it's completely there. It was actually a really nice meeting, and he met Freya online and everything and he was lovely.' (Image: Marylynne Hunter) She also said that with the Scotland's Child Disability Payment, with someone with Freya's condition, they won't have to reapply for the Adult Disability Payment – an aspect which would have been the case if she was applying for PiP. 'She'll just naturally go to the next stage of Adult Disability Payment without any big forms or anything,' Hunter said. 'It's just a wee form that you have to fill in because she's not going to get better. So, that's the Scottish way of doing it. But if it had been the English way of doing it, I would have had to have reapplied. I would have had to have applied for Pip for Freya. And it would have been horrific.' She added: 'It's that whole thing about having to do that big massive form again and talk about what she can't do. I'd rather talk about what she can do, because that's distressing when I have to talk about what Freya needs in terms of her medical care. It's horrific. I don't want to be reminded of that because it's really difficult for me to deal with.' 'The Scottish Government do it in a really good way where they take all the information from the GP and consultants and they don't put you through that torture.' Hunter went on: 'You know what, that's the power of consultation with people who are on the ground with lived experience. The Scottish Government did that, they've consulted with people who are actually accessing these benefits. 'They've done it right.'
Daily Record
28-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
New Motability Scheme payment warning to people on PIP, ADP or other disability benefits
The latest figures from the charity behind the life-changing Motability Scheme show there are now 815,000 customers across the UK, including around 80,000 living in Scotland. The Motability Scheme, or Accessible Vehicles and Equipment Scheme as it is now known for those in Scotland on Adult Disability Payment (ADP) or Child Disability Payment (CDP), offers an affordable way for disabled people to get around outside more easily. However, the charity is urging all new and existing users not to fall for callous crooks trying to con them out of money by contacting them by phone, email or text message, asking for bank details or payments for their leased vehicle, scooter, or electric powered wheelchair. The Motability Scheme said: 'We will never ask for your bank details for refunds or payments over the phone. If you're in doubt, hang up and contact us directly on 0300 456 4566.' It's important for all disability benefit claimants to remember that monthly payments to the Motability Scheme for your leased product are paid directly from your benefit issued by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) or Social Security Scotland to the Motability Scheme - you never need to pay it separately, or directly to the charity. To help all users stay safe, the charity has shared some key things to remember when anyone contacts you saying that they are from the Motability Scheme. Making a payment to the Scheme Motability explained: 'If you're expecting a payment from us we will not call you to confirm your bank or payment details over the phone. If someone calls you asking for this information, do not give it to them. 'If we send you a payment by mistake, we might contact you to let you know the cheque has been stopped and to destroy it.' Making a payment to your dealer Motability said: 'Your dealer might call you to ask for payment towards your Advance Payment or extras you added. 'If you're not sure about the call, hang up and call your dealer directly to check before you share any details.' How to spot a phone, email or text scam These are the three most common types of scam, which can catch even the savviest of people out. Motability is urging everyone to familiarise themselves with practices criminals can use to trust and access your personal and financial information. Email - phishing scam These are designed to steal your identity by 'phishing' for information. They usually look like they're from a real company and ask you to click on a link. Watch out for spelling mistakes, bad grammar and different fonts to spot these. Text message - smishing scam These scams usually ask you to give personal information such as a password or account number. Some will claim to have noticed unusual activity in your bank account and others can be fake delivery tracking links. These usually come from unknown numbers. Phone calls - vishing scam A scammer will call you pretending to be from a trusted company. They might say you've been a victim of fraud and ask for personal details such as your password or account number - you should never give this information to someone over the phone. Motability added: 'Knowing about scams and what they look like is a good first step to keep safe from them. These ten tips will help you feel more prepared in spotting and avoiding scams.' A full guide to spotting scams can be found on the Motability Scheme website here. Below is a quick guide on the Accessible Vehicles and Equipment Scheme and how to swap all or part of your mobility payment to lease a vehicle. How the new scheme works Social Security Scotland guidelines state: 'When you lease a vehicle through the scheme, it will be with our authorised provider, Motability Operations Ltd.' Social Security Scotland will help you pay the lease using all or part of either: the higher rate of the mobility component of Child Disability Payment the enhanced rate of the mobility component of Adult Disability Payment Applying to lease a vehicle for yourself You can apply to lease a vehicle yourself if you meet all of the following: You get the higher rate of the mobility component of Child Disability Payment or the enhanced rate of the mobility component of Adult Disability Payment You are 16 or over You are able to manage your own payments Applying to lease a vehicle on someone's behalf Social Security Scotland also advises that you may be able to apply to lease a vehicle on behalf of someone else. This might be an option if you're either: How to apply To apply to lease a vehicle using the scheme, go to the Motability website where you can: Choose a vehicle Find a dealership When visiting a dealership, you need to present your certificate of entitlement. Social Security Scotland states that you will find this included in your decision award letter. Find out more about Adult Disability Payment and leasing an accessible vehicle on the website here.
Daily Record
15-05-2025
- General
- Daily Record
People on PIP, ADP or DLA due one-off £255 payment before end of this year
The annual heating payment for young disabled people usually starts landing in bank accounts at the end of October. How to apply for a Blue Badge Social Security Scotland recently confirmed over 37,000 disabled children and young people received a one-off payment of £235.70 over the winter months to help cover the costs of higher energy bills. The Child Winter Heating Payment is unique to Scotland and issued to youngsters under the age of 19 in receipt of the higher daily living component rate of Child Disability Payment, Adult Disability Payment (ADP), Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Disability Living Allowance (Child). The Scottish Government confirmed last month that the annual payment will rise by 1.7 per cent this year to £255.80, an increase of £20.10. It's important to be aware all PIP claimants living in Scotland will transfer from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to Adult Disability Payment (ADP) over the coming weeks, but as there are 35,420 existing claimants at time of writing, this information may be useful to them. To be eligible for the payment - which usually starts landing in bank accounts from the end of October - individuals need to have been in claim for one of the benefits mentioned above during the qualifying week, which will be the third week of September (to be confirmed). Other key points about the automatic payment: The £255.80 payment is per child or young person - not per household If there is more than one child or young person who qualifies in the household, they each get a payment If someone is awarded a backdated payment for one of the qualifying benefits which falls within the eligibility week in September, they will also receive the payment The money is paid into the same account where the qualifying benefit is paid into Nobody on a qualifying benefit needs to apply separately to get the payment, however, in certain circumstances some people may need to apply - find out more about this here. Eligibility for the winter 2025/26 payment Children and young people in Scotland can get the heating payment if they are under 19-years-old and were claiming one of the qualifying benefits during the qualifying week in September (to be confirmed later this year). Qualifying benefits for Child Winter Heating Payment Young people under 19 getting one of the following benefits for at least one day during the September qualifying week will receive the £255.80 payment. Qualifying benefits: Child Disability Payment - highest rate of the care component Disability Living Allowance for children - highest rate of the care component Personal Independence Payment (PIP) - enhanced daily living component. Just be aware nobody in Scotland should still be on PIP after this spring and is included here for existing clamant information only Adult Disability Payment - enhanced rate of the daily living component Scottish Government guidance also clarifies people do not not need to show receipts or proof of how they spent the money. If a child or young person gets a qualifying benefit but does not live in Scotland during the September qualifying week, they might still qualify if they: live in certain European Economic Area (EEA) countries or Switzerland can show they have a genuine and sufficient link to Scotland Find out what to do if the child no longer lives in Scotland here. When will payments be made? Social Security Scotland delivers the benefit and automatic payments usually start landing in bank accounts from the end of October, however, these are issued in batches and will continue until February 2026. How do I apply? Payments will be made to most people automatically, so there's no need to apply. It will be made to the same account where people receive their DLA for Children, Child Disability Payment, ADP or PIP (which is set to end this spring). For more information, contact Social Security Scotland through web chat on the website here or call the freephone helpline on 0800 182 2222 between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday.
