This article is written as part of a paid partnership agreement between Social Security Scotland and Healthcare News Scotland, publishers of healthandcare.scot.

Health and social care staff across the sector can help patients and clients get money they are entitled to by providing information to support their application for disability benefits.

Social Security Scotland needs one piece of supporting information from a professional to process an application for Adult Disability Payment or Child Disability Payment.

Applicants are encouraged to provide supporting information directly to Social Security Scotland using documents they have at home if possible.

However unlike the Department for Work and Pensions, people can ask Social Security Scotland to collect supporting information on their behalf.

The organisation introduced this service with the aim of removing a barrier to applying so more eligible people could get the money they’re entitled to.

This different approach means health and social care professionals could be asked by Social Security Scotland staff to provide supporting information.

Social Security Scotland is working with health and social care professionals, local authorities and health boards to make it as straightforward as possible for busy staff to submit supporting information.

The organisation has also developed new guidance on supporting information for professionals alongside a leaflet, video and a series of social media posts.

Craig, a health and social care professional who works in Social Security Scotland, said:

“Supporting information helps us to build up a picture of how a person is affected by their disability.

“I worked as a nurse for 20 years and I can use a prescription list to help form a picture of the conditions that affect a person.

“Sometimes the list may highlight a condition that isn’t mentioned on the application. In a case like this, the supporting information means we can do better for this person because we’re able to put together their whole story.”

Supporting information can come from a wide range of professionals from support workers and nurses to physiotherapists and counsellor. 

It should broadly confirm the conditions, disability or needs the client has talked about on their application form. The supporting information does not have to include a formal diagnosis.

Janet Richardson, Deputy Director of Client Services at Social Security Scotland, said:

“Being disabled, terminally ill or having a long-term health condition comes with lots of extra costs.  

“Child Disability Payment and Adult Disability Payment are there to help and we want everyone eligible to get all the money they’re entitled to.

“Often people think only GPs can provide supporting information, however a wide range of health and social care professionals can do this and are often better placed to do so.

“For example, if someone is seeing a physiotherapist or counsellor regularly or is getting help from a support worker, they’ll often be better placed to provide supporting information than a GP.

“The most important thing we need from health and social care professionals is broad confirmation that their patient or client has the conditions, disability or needs  they’ve told us about.

“If they can provide more detail on how this impacts on the person day to day that can be really helpful, but this isn’t essential.”

As well as encouraging professionals to provide supporting information if asked, Social Security Scotland has also taken action to encourage clients to provide supporting information directly with their application if they can.

While the collection of supporting information on behalf of applicants is an important service for those who need it, it takes time. If someone has useful supporting information at home, providing it along with the application is normally the fastest way to get a decision.

Social Security Scotland has updated the online guidance and the disability benefit application forms to make it clear why supporting information is important, the kind of documents that can be submitted and the range of professionals it can come from.

 

For more information visit www.mygov.scot/disabilitybenefits