Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
New adult disability payment welcomed
Monklands residents are now beginning to receive the new adult disability payment after the revised benefit was rolled out to both the North and South Lanarkshire Council areas in the second phase of its introduction.
Social security minister Ben Macpherson met service users and staff at North Lanarkshire disability forum in Bellshill to mark the latest stage of the expanding pilot scheme.
Adult disability payment replaces the previous personal independence payment, with the benefit having transferred from the UK government to the Scottish government. North and South Lanarkshire are among the first six local authority areas where the new system is now in operation ahead of a nationwide launch in late August.
Applications can be made from now, with the minister promising people going through the process a “positive, responsible and compassionate approach, centred around our principles of dignity, fairness and respect”.
Those already receiving personal independence payments or disability living allowance do not need to apply but will see their existing benefits transfer automatically from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to Social Security Scotland between this summer and the end of 2025.
Mr Macpherson was joined on his visit to the disability forum by ward councillor Jordan Linden, the leader of North Lanarkshire Council, and spent time discussing service users’ experiences and their hopes for when their benefits transfer to the new system.
The minister described adult disability payment as “without doubt the most complex” of the 12 benefits so far introduced by the Scottish Government, with around 340,000 people currently receiving one of the two transferring payments.
He said: “Our approach has been designed in partnership with people with lived experience of disability benefits, and their input has been crucial in developing an improved service that will be delivered very differently to the DWP’S system.
“We will start from a position of trust – there will be no private sector assessors and clients will be given greater choice to help them, including times and locations of meetings, with home visits available.
“Social Security Scotland will only need to collect one piece of supporting information like social care assessments, medical reports or prescription lists, and the onus will be on them to collect this on people’s behalf.
“Indefinite awards will be introduced for those with needs that are highly unlikely to change, and we will also fasttrack applications from people with a terminal illness.”
Officials are promising a “seamless” transition to the new system for existing claimants, plus “a two-stage independent review of adult disability payment later this year to consider what further changes and improvements could and should be made”.
Mr Macpherson also noted that there will be review process changes including short-term assistance for those challenging payment decisions, and assistance from independent advocacy service Voiceability for applications and appeals.
He added: “People can apply in the way that suits them best – as well as online and over the phone, local staff can provide advice and I encourage those who think they could be eligible to check and apply.”
Disability forum project manager Lorraine Van Beuge added: “We were delighted to be involved in the launch of the adult disability payment in North Lanarkshire and welcome the positive changes this benefit may bring.”