A CHILD Disability Payment will be the next new benefit to be introduced by the Scottish Government, it was announced yesterday.
In an update to the Scottish Parliament, Social Security Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said Social Security Scotland will start taking applications from summer 2021 as part of a pilot, ahead of a full roll-out across the country from autumn 2021.
This will be followed by the introduction of an Adult Disability Payment, which will be piloted from spring 2022 and available across the country by summer 2022.
The Child Disability Payment will replace the Department for Work and Pensions’s Disability Living Allowance for children, and the Adult Disability Payment will replace the Personal Independence Payment.
People who currently receive UK Government disability benefits will be transferred to the new Scottish system in stages after the new benefits are introduced. This work is expected to be completed to the previously announced timeline of 2025.
Once the Adult Disability Payment has been rolled out, anyone on Personal Independence Payment or Working Age Disability Living Allowance who reports a change in condition, has an upcoming review date, or is about to reach the end of their DWP award period, will transfer to Social Security Scotland so that they do not have to undergo a DWP face-to-face assessment.
READ MORE: Shirley-Anne Somerville: Learn from Tory mistakes to help people claim support
Somerville also confirmed the ambition to roll out Scottish Child Payment to under-16s by the end of 2022, subject to getting the data for six to 16-year-olds from the DWP.
She said: “I am pleased we have been able to make progress this year with our work to establish a new social security system for Scotland, despite the impacts of Covid-19. Our progress includes the introduction of three new benefits.
“Our Job Start Payment helps young people starting a new job after a period of unemployment. Child Winter Heating Assistance will help families of the most seriously disabled children and young people heat their homes. And through our prioritising of the game-changing Scottish Child Payment, we were able to start taking applications for children under six last week.
“Ahead of Covid-19 we were on track with our other new benefits too.
“We were forced to review our timeline for the introduction of these more complex benefits. Given how close we were to introducing the first of our major disability assistance payments, this is of course hugely disappointing to me. I know that feeling will be shared by others.
“It is clear that while the fight against this virus continues, work needs to be reprioritised by both the Scottish Government and our partners to focus on the response and recovery. “Working with these partners we have developed as ambitious a timeline as possible, while remaining cognisant that Covid-19 is still here – indeed we remain in the grip of it. The new timeline I have set out today is reasonable and realistic.
“I am glad that I am now able to provide people with more clarity. Being transparent about our plans and what is achievable is part of ensuring our social security system continues to treat people with dignity, fairness and respect.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel