Latest news with #SocialSecurityScotland
Daily Mirror
13 hours ago
- General
- Daily Mirror
Thousands of people to get free £290 payment this year - see who is eligible
The bonus payment for receiving these benefits is called the Carer's Allowance Supplement and this is paid twice a year - we explain who is eligible and how when it will be issued Thousands of people claiming benefits will receive a bonus payment of £293.50 later this year. The extra money will be issued to those who are in receipt of Carer's Allowance in Scotland. You will also be eligible if you get Carer Support Payment, which is replacing Carer's Allowance in Scotland. The bonus payment for receiving these benefits is called the Carer's Allowance Supplement and this is paid twice a year. The last payment was made in June 2025, with the second payment due in December 2025. You normally need to be claiming Carer's Allowance or Carer's Support Payment to get this bonus. If you're due to get the payment, you'll get a letter from Social Security Scotland. It will then be paid to your regular bank account automatically - you won't need to apply for it. Carer's Allowance explained Carer's Allowance is paid to those providing at least 35 hours of care a week. This can include helping someone with everyday tasks such as washing, managing bills, or taking them to doctor's appointments. The person you're caring for must also receive one of the following benefits: Personal Independence Payment - daily living component Disability Living Allowance - the middle or highest care rate Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance - the middle or highest care rate Attendance Allowance Pension Age Disability Payment Constant Attendance Allowance at or above the normal maximum rate with an Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit Constant Attendance Allowance at the basic (full day) rate with a War Disablement Pension Armed Forces Independence Payment Child Disability Payment - the middle or highest care rate Adult Disability Payment - daily living component at the standard or enhanced rate You must also be aged 16 or over, not in full-time education, and not studying for 21 hours a week or more. There is an earning limits, which sets how much someone can earn in income and still be eligible for Carer's Allowance. This is set at £196 a week. If your earnings go over the limit - even by just £1 - you lose your entitlement to Carer's Allowance. You don't have to be related to the person you're caring for, and if more than one person cares for the same person, only one of you can claim Carer's Allowance. You should keep in mind that claiming Carer's Allowance can affect the benefits of the person you're looking after, as well as your own.
STV News
18 hours ago
- Politics
- STV News
Disability payment should be simplified and made more accessible, review finds
An independent review of the Scottish disability payment has called for the benefit to be simplified and made more accessible. Led by charity leader Edel Harris, the review calls for automatic entitlement to the benefit in some cases. The report, commissioned by the Scottish Government, found while the adult disability payment is more 'compassionate' than the UK benefit it replaced, some people still face barriers and distress when applying. Ms Harris welcomed several changes from the previous assessments carried out by the UK Department for Work and Pensions, but said there is more to be done to deliver a human rights-based approach to the benefit that delivers for disabled people. The chairwoman of the Adult Disability Payment Review made more than 50 recommendations to improve the service. They include embedding a 'trauma-informed, stigma-free' approach to assessments, simplifying the application process, improving communication from staff, and reviewing the eligibility criteria. The report recommends the application process is made easier for those with fluctuating conditions and mental health problems, and calls for welfare advice services to be sustainably funded. Ms Harris said: 'Adult disability payment has been described by many as a step-change – kinder in tone and more dignified in approach. 'But too often, disabled people still find the system difficult to navigate, time-consuming, and anxiety-inducing. 'I heard consistently that if we are to realise social security as an investment in people, it is important to ensure that the eligibility criteria fulfil this goal. 'This review highlights the importance of a system that is not only compassionate, but practical and accessible. 'The recommendations are based on real experiences and a shared commitment to making adult disability payment work better for everyone who needs it.' Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: 'The Scottish Government's approach to providing social security is a compassionate one, based on dignity, fairness and respect, and I am very encouraged to read the feedback from disabled people that this has been reflected in their positive interactions with Social Security Scotland. 'While the UK Government seeks to make cuts to the vital support disabled people rely on, I want to make clear that we will not cut adult disability payment. 'Instead, we will work to protect and enhance Scotland's social security system, improving on what we have achieved so far. 'I very much appreciate the comprehensive recommendations this report provides for how we can improve adult disability payment.' Ms Somerville said the Scottish Government will 'carefully consider all of the recommendations' in the report and provide its initial response by January next year. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The Herald Scotland
19 hours ago
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
Calls for Scottish disability payment to be simplified
Led by charity leader Edel Harris, the review calls for automatic entitlement to the benefit in some cases. An independent review of the Scottish disability payment has called for the benefit to be simplified and made more accessible. The report, commissioned by the Scottish Government, found while the adult disability payment is more 'compassionate' than the UK benefit it replaced, some people still face barriers and distress when applying. Ms Harris welcomed several changes from the previous assessments carried out by the UK Department for Work and Pensions, but said there is more to be done to deliver a human rights-based approach to the benefit that delivers for disabled people. The chairwoman of the Adult Disability Payment Review made more than 50 recommendations to improve the service. They include embedding a 'trauma-informed, stigma-free' approach to assessments, simplifying the application process, improving communication from staff, and reviewing the eligibility criteria. The report recommends the application process is made easier for those with fluctuating conditions and mental health problems, and calls for welfare advice services to be sustainably funded. Ms Harris said: 'Adult disability payment has been described by many as a step-change – kinder in tone and more dignified in approach. 'But too often, disabled people still find the system difficult to navigate, time-consuming, and anxiety-inducing. 'I heard consistently that if we are to realise social security as an investment in people, it is important to ensure that the eligibility criteria fulfil this goal. 'This review highlights the importance of a system that is not only compassionate, but practical and accessible. 'The recommendations are based on real experiences and a shared commitment to making adult disability payment work better for everyone who needs it.' Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: 'The Scottish Government's approach to providing social security is a compassionate one, based on dignity, fairness and respect, and I am very encouraged to read the feedback from disabled people that this has been reflected in their positive interactions with Social Security Scotland. 'While the UK Government seeks to make cuts to the vital support disabled people rely on, I want to make clear that we will not cut adult disability payment. 'Instead, we will work to protect and enhance Scotland's social security system, improving on what we have achieved so far. 'I very much appreciate the comprehensive recommendations this report provides for how we can improve adult disability payment.' Ms Somerville said the Scottish Government will 'carefully consider all of the recommendations' in the report and provide its initial response by January next year.
BBC News
19 hours ago
- Health
- BBC News
Call to simplify Scottish disability benefits system
Access to Scotland's adult disability benefits should be made easier despite forecasts of a steep increase in claims and costs, an independent review has said.A report commissioned by ministers said the Adult Disability Payment was a "great foundation" which was "significantly more compassionate" than benefits on offer in the rest of the it said too many disabled people still found the system difficult to navigate, and said eligibility criteria should be it stands, the number of people claiming the payment is forecast to grow from 379,000 in 2024-25 to 703,000 in 2030-31. The cost is set to increase to over £5.4bn per year - a price Scottish ministers say they are willing to pay to have a more generous system. The Adult Disability Payment (ADP) was introduced in 2022, a cornerstone of the devolved social security agency which was being set is a regular payment to help people cover the added costs of having a disability or long-term health condition, regardless of whether they are in work or is essentially a replacement for the Personal Independence Payment (PIP), and 99% of cases have now been transferred from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) to Social Security actual payments handed out are the same as PIP - a standard weekly award for daily living costs of £73.90, or an enhanced award of £ the review - conducted by Edel Harris, who has led a number of charity and care organisations - said the Scottish approach to assessments was "significantly more compassionate" than the DWP system it said it was "kinder in tone and more dignified in approach".And indeed fully a third of people now getting ADP are new applicants, who had not been in receipt of either PIP or the Disability Living Allowance (DLA).That is only set to grow. The number of people receiving ADP is forecast to surpass 700,000 by the end of the is more than 12% of the Scottish that is not such a large number when the last census suggested 24% of Scots had some form of disability or long-term health problem limiting their day-to-day it carries with it a huge financial spending on social security benefits in Scotland was £5.3bn in 2023-24. It is forecast to hit £7.7bn next year, and £9.4bn by is by far the biggest element of that figure - by 2030-31 it will cost £ context, that is more than ten times the price of the Scottish Child Payment, and more than 30 times the Scottish version of the winter fuel the gap between the ever-increasing cost of these benefits and the funding available in the block grant from Westminster is growing the end of the decade it will hit £2bn - money that Scottish ministers will need to find elsewhere in budgets by cutting from other departments or by increasing taxes. Ms Harris is keen for new applicants to continue to come forward, regardless of the report states that "there is evidence of the economic value of the wellbeing impacts of disability benefits, and these significantly outweigh the financial costs associated with administering them".She says that "not only should we continue to encourage people to apply for Adult Disability Payment, but we also need to make the application process as accessible and anxiety-reducing as possible".The report makes 50 recommendations about simplifying the system and making it easier for people to also argues that eligibility for the payment should be based on "the real life experience of clients and not just on a list of activities".At present, eligibility is based on specific things people might need help with. Examples include preparing food, eating and drinking, washing and bathing, getting dressed and communicating respondents told the review that "having to take the time to highlight issues and what you can't do is depressing, demoralising and unfair", and that "it feels like you're having to beg for help".Ms Harris recommended moving from this system to a bigger-picture approach based on outcomes and equal participation in society. The Scottish government says it will consider the report and set out its formal response in January in many ways they are singing from the same hymn sheet the UK government was endeavouring to restrict eligibility for disability payments - only to perform a series of climbdowns due to backbench revolts - Scottish ministers were very clear that they would not be making any Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville has stated that she sees benefits as an investment in the people of that language is actually written into the legislation underpinning Social Security underlines the very different approaches taken by the Scottish and UK administrations, both of which are faced with a spiralling bill for working-age benefits at a time of tight budgets and weak UK government has sought to bring the number of claimants - and thus the cost of welfare - down, while maintaining the Chancellor's "fiscal rules" against increasing personal taxes or state say the existing system is broken and that it needs to be made sustainable for future generations, while prioritising those who need help the most. Generous system funded by higher taxes Scottish ministers' generosity will doubtless be popular - in particular with those receiving the payments - but we should not pretend that it was an easy choice to has been funded by higher taxes, with the Scottish system now featuring six different income tax bands which ask higher earners to contribute hundreds or even thousands of pounds more per year than if they lived down latest plan to balance the books involves reducing the public sector workforce by 0.5% per year for the next five Security Scotland itself has been singled out for "important efficiency savings", while health boards have also been asked to make 3% of that is based on the system as it currently stands, prior to consideration of Ms Harris's that is why ministers need another six months to decide how to respond - there is a difficult balancing act to be carried out here, and it will take place at the same time as the government is drawing up its next budget.
The National
20 hours ago
- Business
- The National
Calls for disability benefits to be simplified following review
The independent review highlighted that while the ADP is significantly more compassionate than the UK benefit it replaced, some people still face barriers, complexity and distress when applying for it. The review noted that although the ending of the DWP-style assessments and recognises the compassionate approach of Social Security Scotland staff, it concluded that there is still more that can be done to deliver a truly human-rights-based approach. The review made more than 50 recommendations, including that eligibility for ADP should be based on the real-life experience of clients and not just on a list of activities, along with recommending that the application process should be made easier for those with fluctuating conditions, mental health problems, and also take into consideration the environment in which the person lives. READ MORE: Hedge fund boss and Labour donor buys Scottish island as last residents leave The report also called for sustainable funding for welfare advice services, more inclusive communication, and automatic entitlement in some circumstances. Edel Harris, chair of the Adult Disability Payment Review and experienced charity leader, said the review recommendations are based on real experiences and a shared commitment to make ADP work better for everyone who needs it. She said: 'Adult Disability Payment has been described by many as a step change - kinder in tone and more dignified in approach. But too often, disabled people still find the system difficult to navigate, time-consuming, and anxiety-inducing. 'I heard consistently that if we are to realise social security as an investment in people, it is important to ensure that the eligibility criteria fulfil this goal. 'This review highlights the importance of a system that is not only compassionate, but practical and accessible.' The review engaged extensively with disabled people and the organisations that support them. It drew on evidence from a public consultation, written submissions, in-person and online events, and the lived experience of an advisory group made up of third sector representatives, disabled people and people with long-term health conditions. Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Shirley-Anne Somerville said she felt 'very encouraged' to read the feedback from disabled people about their positive interactions with Social Security Scotland. (Image: Jane Barlow) Somerville added that the Scottish Government's approach to providing social security is a compassionate one, based on dignity, fairness and respect. She said: 'While the UK Government seeks to make cuts to the vital support disabled people rely on, I want to make clear that we will not cut Adult Disability Payment. 'Instead, we will work to protect and enhance Scotland's social security system, improving on what we have achieved so far. I very much appreciate the comprehensive recommendations this report provides for how we can improve Adult Disability Payment. Somerville thanked Harris for her 18-months' worth of work conducting the review as she added: 'The Scottish Government will now carefully consider all of the recommendations and provide its initial response by January 2026.' Harris visited Inspire by Community Integrated Care, an Aberdeen-based charity supporting adults with learning disabilities and additional support needs. The visit offered an insight into the role of social security in promoting independence, inclusion, and dignity. Community Integrated Care's managing director for Scotland, Sara Murphy, welcomed the review as said: 'As a care provider, we see every day how inclusive, person-centred support enables people to build confidence, develop skills, and live more independently. 'We welcome the review's call for a system that truly listens to disabled people and reflects their real-life experiences. We hope it leads to meaningful change that makes accessing support fairer, simpler, and more empowering for those who need it.'
