PIP to be replaced in Scotland with Adult Disability Payment

Scottish PIPs claimants will be switched over to the Adult Disability Payment after Social Security Scotland take over the benefit from the Department of Work and Pensions.

Social Security Scotland took over the PIP payments from central government in April of this year, but due to the ongoing coronavirus, the launch of the new benefit scheme was delayed until 2021. They will deliver three new forms of disability assistance including: Child Disability Payment (replacing Disability Living Allowance), Adult Disability Payment (replacing PIP) and Pension Age Disability Payment (replacing Attendance Allowance).

The new benefit will provide additional financial support to people of working age across Scotland with a disability or long term health condition.

Here’s what you need to know.

The eligibility for the new Adult Disability Payment is similar to the criteria for PIP.

• You must be aged between 16 and state pension age
• You must have difficulties with daily living and/or getting around
• You have had the physical or mental difficulty for at least 3 months and expect it to continue for at least 9 months

These do not apply to people who are terminally ill.

Once responsibility for ADP is taken by Social Security Scotland, they will make all decisions about a person’s entitlement using the applicant’s account of their circumstances, which they hope will reduce the number of face to face assessments. Where assessments need to take place, these will be carried out over the phone or, if you need a face to face consultation, these will take place at a place convenient for the applicant.

Applicants will no longer be asked to carry out tasks to demonstrate how their disability or illness affects them as part of the process. Instead, consultations will be based on conversations between healthcare professionals and the applicant with no private sector involvement.

The new scheme was devised following research about how applicant’s felt about the current DWP process.

There will be no change to disability benefits for claimants in England.