30,000 Scots set to lose benefits

Controversial changes to the disability living allowance will affect an estimated 30,000 Scots.

Part of a wider UK Government clampdown on welfare payments, the disability living allowance (DLA) for working-age people is being replaced with a personal independence payment (PIP).

But the “fit to work” tests for the new benefit are now, critics claim, much harsher.

Scottish Government research estimates around 30,000 disabled people will lose their entitlement to non-means tested disability benefits, with those worst affected losing benefits worth more than £7,000 a year if disallowed for PIP.

Changes made to PIP last year limited the amount of support people with mental health conditions could receive. The move sparked outrage and a court challenge ruled they were unfair.

Earlier this year, we told how 26-year-old MS sufferer Michael Forsyth, from Lanark, was accused of lying about his condition and had his PIP payments stopped and was ordered to repay almost £20,000 in benefits.

Nicola Sturgeon has pledged to “end the revolving door” of welfare assessments when the Scottish Government takes control of DLA and PIP payments.

The new Scottish social security agency will rely on fewer benefit assessments and has ruled out using private firms for the work.