Adult Disability Payment opens for new applications across Scotland, adopting an approach that ministers say will be ‘positive and compassionate’, and ending the use of private health assessment companies.

The Scottish government says Adult Disability Payment – which will provide financial support to people between 16 years old and state pension age who are disabled, have a long-term health condition or a terminal illness – is the most complex benefit to move across from the UK government to Social Security Scotland.

Some 340,000 people already receiving the UK Government’s Personal Independence Payment and Disability Living Allowance will be transferred automatically from the DWP to Social Security Scotland in stages from now until the end of 2025.

The payment has already been opened to new applications in 13 local authority areas across Scotland under a pilot programme.

Moira Tasker, Chief Executive of Inclusion Scotland says the timing of this financial support is important with so many people “deeply worried about just surviving the winter” because of the economic crisis:

“The Adult Disability Payment will offer much needed support to eligible disabled people.

“It ushers in further progress towards upholding the values of dignity and respect in Scottish society, which were entirely lacking in the Department of Work and Pensions approach to disability benefits.  

“We are proud of the part that disabled people, our members and Inclusion Scotland played in engaging with the Scottish Government to make a new system for Scottish disability benefits fair and accessible.  

“The Adult Disability Payment is a leap forward. It has the potential to enable disabled people and Scots with long-term health conditions to participate in their communities and wider Scottish society – whether that is through work, education, family life, or simply a life lived without fear of phone calls or letters demanding repeated assessments and sanctions.”

Scotland’s Minister for Social Security, Ben Macpherson says the national launch of Adult Disability Payment is a significant milestone towards a different approach to social security:

“In creating our new system, we have worked extensively and collaboratively with people who will use this service. Their input, and their direct experience of the DWP system, has significantly informed our policy development and resulted in the number of improvements that we are making to the way in which we are delivering our new service.

He added that the Scottish government aims to provide a “positive and compassionate” experience for people and improve on the previous approach:

“In our Scottish system no one will be subject to DWP style assessments or degrading functional examinations, and we will never use the private sector to carry out health examinations.

“People will only be invited to a consultation on occasions when we require more information so we can make a decision. This will be a conversation with a health and social care professional to understand how a person’s disability or health condition impacts them.

“Social security is a shared investment in building a fairer Scotland. It is a human right, and we encourage those who may be eligible for support to apply.”

 

The independent advocacy service provided by VoiceAbility provides free advocacy to anyone who identifies as disabled and requires support to access Scottish social security. The service can be accessed by contacting VoiceAbility directly for free on 0300 303 1660 or by visiting the Scotland pages at voiceability.org

 

Read more: The minister for reducing poverty; Update: New portfolio to tackle inequality; New rights bill for young disabled Scots; Disability benefit changes ‘three times more generous’

 

Sign up to our bulletin for key health & social care updates straight to your inbox