Latest news with #ChildDisabilityPayment
Daily Record
3 days ago
- 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.
Daily Record
06-05-2025
- General
- Daily Record
People on enhanced PIP or ADP rates due payments over £749 from this month
Disability benefits are issued in arrears which means the full uprating will be seen in payments this month. How to apply for a Blue Badge Millions of adults, young people and children in receipt of disability benefits such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Adult Disability Payment (ADP), Child Disability Payment (CDP), Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Attendance Allowance, will receive the full uprating this month. Most disability benefits are issued four weeks in arrears, which means claimants would have received a blend of old and new rates in April. Now that a full four week assessment cycle has passed, people can expect to receive the full new payment rate from May 5. The annual uprating will see people on disability benefits receive between £29.20 and £187.45 each week, some £116.80 or £749.80 every four-week pay period. Over the course of the 2025/26 financial year, this will see people on the highest or enhanced awards receive £9,747 in extra cash help. It's important to be aware the maximum amount of £749.80 is based on someone in receipt of the highest award for both the daily living and mobility components. Attendance Allowance does not include a mobility component. PIP, Adult Disability Payment, Child Disability Payment and DLA Below is a reminder of all the new weekly payment rates. This information has also been issued by letter or email from DWP or Social Security Scotland - keep this safe as it's your proof of entitlement. Daily living Lower care award (CDP, DLA only): £29.20 Standard: £73.90 Enhanced: £110.40 Mobility Standard: £29.20 Enhanced: £77.05 Attendance Allowance Lower rate: £73.90 Higher rate: £110.40 Carer's Allowance Weekly payment rate: £83.30 Four-week pay period: £333.20 The weekly earnings threshold for Carer's Allowance in England and Wales and Carer Support Payment in Scotland has increased from £151 to £196, equivalent to 16 hours at the National Living Wage. You can find a full list of the new payment rates for all benefits on here. PIP and ADP payment combinations 2025/26 Single component award only People on the standard or higher daily living or mobility component: Standard daily living only - £73.90 per week, £295.60 per pay period Enhanced daily living only - £110.40 per week, £441.60 per pay period Standard mobility only - £29.20 per week, £116.80 per pay period Enhanced mobility only - £77.05 per week, £308.20 per pay period Standard rate of daily living and mobility People on the standard rates of both components: Standard daily living and standard mobility - £103.10 per week, £412.40 per pay period Higher rate of daily living and mobility People on the higher rates of both components Enhanced daily living and enhanced mobility - £187.45 per week, £749.80 per pay period. Mixed awards People on the standard rate of one component and the higher rate of the other: Standard daily living and enhanced mobility - £150.95 per week, £603.80 per pay period Enhanced daily living and standard mobility - £139.60 per week, £558.40 per pay period The latest DWP stats show that just over one in three cases (36%) received the highest level of PIP award of £737.20. Online PIP 'test' If you are thinking about making a claim for PIP - or ADP - an online 'PIP test' could help you make up your mind as it gives an indication of the number of points you would be awarded, which in turn, determines the level of award you might receive - standard or enhanced rate. It's important to be aware that the free online 'PIP test' provided by the independent benefits advisory forum, Benefits and Work, is not a guarantee that someone will be eligible for PIP or ADP. The updated online test takes into account the proposed changes to the Daily Living component - you will need to score at least four points in at least one of the 10 tasks to qualify for PIP - find out more about the reforms here. An application to the DWP for PIP or Social Security Scotland for ADP also takes other eligibility factors into account including supporting evidence on how a disability, physical or mental illness or long-term health condition affects you. According to DWP guidance on entitlement to PIP is not based on an individual's health condition or disability alone, but on how much a long-term health condition or disability impacts an individual's daily life or mobility. This PIP self-test is completely anonymous and has questions plus the points awarded for each descriptor answer and will help you understand: Whether you would score enough points to receive PIP for each component (daily living and mobility) Whether you would qualify for the standard or enhanced rate of each component If you submit your email on the self-test page you will also be sent a copy of your results which could help you accurately complete the ' How your disability affects you ' evidence form that you will receive from the DWP. Take the PIP self-test online here. It's slightly different for people in Scotland applying for ADP as this can be done online and the questions asked contain images and more detail per question to help people understand what is being asked. You can find out more about the ADP assessment questions on the CPAG (Child Poverty Action Group) website here. 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 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.
Western Telegraph
03-05-2025
- Business
- Western Telegraph
HMRC offers Tax Free Childcare for school and nursery pupils
Tax-Free Childcare can be used flexibly to pay for childminders, wraparound and holiday childcare. Hundreds of thousands of parents who recently found out their little one's September primary school place, can use Tax-Free Childcare to save thousands on wraparound childcare and holiday club costs HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has said. Many working families will now be arranging childcare for the start and end of the school day, and with Tax-Free Childcare they can get financial support of up to £2,000 a year per child, or £4,000 if their child is disabled, towards the cost. Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC's Director General for Customer Services, says: 'Starting school can be an expensive time, there's a lot to buy and there's also a lot to organise. Now you know where your child is going to school you can start organising your childcare and Tax-Free Childcare can help make the costs more manageable. Sign up to start saving today on What is Tax-Free Childcare? Tax-Free Childcare is a scheme that can be used to pay for any approved childcare so parents can arrange their childcare to suit them - whether that's wraparound care, a childminder, after school clubs or school holiday care. For every £8 deposited in a Tax-Free Childcare account, the government tops it by £2 which means parents can receive up to £500 (or £1,000 if their child is disabled) every 3 months to use to pay for their childcare costs. Parents can use the scheme to pay for childcare for children aged 11 or under, or up to 16 if the child has a disability. It's quick and easy to apply on the HMRC website. Who is eligible for HMRC tax-free childcare payments? Your child must be 11 or under and usually live with you. They stop being eligible on September 1 after their 11th birthday. Adopted children are eligible, but foster children are not. Neither parent can earn more than £100,000 a year after deductions. If your child is disabled and usually lives with you, you may get up to £4,000 a year until 1 September after their 16th birthday. They're eligible for this if they: get Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, Armed Forces Independence Payment, Child Disability Payment (Scotland only) or Adult Disability Payment (Scotland only) are certified as blind or severely sight-impaired Recommended reading: What can you use tax-free childcare payments for? HMRC says you can use it to pay for approved childcare, for example: childminders, nurseries and nannies after school clubs and play schemes Your childcare provider must be signed up to the scheme before you can pay them and benefit from tax-free childcare. It's a good idea to check with your provider to see if they're signed up beforehand. If your child is disabled, you can use the extra tax-free childcare money you get to help pay for extra hours of childcare. You can also use it to help pay your childcare provider so they can get specialist equipment for your child such as mobility aids. Once an account is opened, parents can deposit money and use it straight away or keep it in the account to use it whenever it's needed. Any unused money in the account can be withdrawn at any time.
Glasgow Times
02-05-2025
- Business
- Glasgow Times
HMRC offers Tax Free Childcare for school and nursery pupils
Tax-Free Childcare can be used flexibly to pay for childminders, wraparound and holiday childcare. Hundreds of thousands of parents who recently found out their little one's September primary school place, can use Tax-Free Childcare to save thousands on wraparound childcare and holiday club costs HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has said. Many working families will now be arranging childcare for the start and end of the school day, and with Tax-Free Childcare they can get financial support of up to £2,000 a year per child, or £4,000 if their child is disabled, towards the cost. Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC's Director General for Customer Services, says: 'Starting school can be an expensive time, there's a lot to buy and there's also a lot to organise. Now you know where your child is going to school you can start organising your childcare and Tax-Free Childcare can help make the costs more manageable. Sign up to start saving today on What is Tax-Free Childcare? Tax-Free Childcare is a scheme that can be used to pay for any approved childcare so parents can arrange their childcare to suit them - whether that's wraparound care, a childminder, after school clubs or school holiday care. For every £8 deposited in a Tax-Free Childcare account, the government tops it by £2 which means parents can receive up to £500 (or £1,000 if their child is disabled) every 3 months to use to pay for their childcare costs. Parents can use the scheme to pay for childcare for children aged 11 or under, or up to 16 if the child has a disability. It's quick and easy to apply on the HMRC website. Who is eligible for HMRC tax-free childcare payments? Your child must be 11 or under and usually live with you. They stop being eligible on September 1 after their 11th birthday. Adopted children are eligible, but foster children are not. Neither parent can earn more than £100,000 a year after deductions. If your child is disabled and usually lives with you, you may get up to £4,000 a year until 1 September after their 16th birthday. They're eligible for this if they: get Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, Armed Forces Independence Payment, Child Disability Payment (Scotland only) or Adult Disability Payment (Scotland only) are certified as blind or severely sight-impaired Recommended reading: What can you use tax-free childcare payments for? HMRC says you can use it to pay for approved childcare, for example: childminders, nurseries and nannies after school clubs and play schemes Your childcare provider must be signed up to the scheme before you can pay them and benefit from tax-free childcare. It's a good idea to check with your provider to see if they're signed up beforehand. If your child is disabled, you can use the extra tax-free childcare money you get to help pay for extra hours of childcare. You can also use it to help pay your childcare provider so they can get specialist equipment for your child such as mobility aids. Once an account is opened, parents can deposit money and use it straight away or keep it in the account to use it whenever it's needed. Any unused money in the account can be withdrawn at any time.
