There have been significant delays in the role out of Scotland’s new disability benefit, the Adult Disability Benefit which will have a huge impact on the quality of life that disabled people have. This is mainly due to the fact that apart from the three and a half Scots who are being automatically transferred over, it can take four to six months to go through the whole application process and for a decision to be made on your claim to any kind of funding or support.
These major delays can drastically affect the lifestyles of disabled people through out Scotland and can lead to them not being able to access many of the facilities they would have been able to access had they had the support.
The Adult Disability Payment is a benefit which helps to provide extra money for people affected by a number of health conditions. It’s main purpose is to ensure that those who need support are able to receive it depending on their needs. It is split up in to a number of different components which help to cater for the needs of individuals. It includes a Daily Living Component and a Mobility Component. Applicants need to be assessed and then given the right level of support and funding that they require in order to live as independent a life as possible.
Those who are already receiving disability benefits such as Personal Independence Payments or Disability Living Allowance don’t need to apply again for the new benefit as they will be automatically transferred over when the time is right. Social Security Scotland will move claimants over to the new benefit with out them having to lift a finger. This is all in an effort to make the process as smooth and transitional as possible.
The benefit its self is mainly aimed at people who live in Scotland, however people who live in the EEA, Switzerland or Gibraltar or those who have a genuine and sufficient link to Scotland may also apply. This means that they may not live in Scotland at this specific time but will have spent a significant proportion of their life in Scotland.
Meanwhile, independent research from Mobility Solutions Direct has found that the average disabled household faces £975 a month in extra costs, with 91% of people concerned about energy bills this winter and 51% concerned about affording the rising cost of food. The rate of inflation through out the country has been rising uncontrollably which has lead to many disabled people having to divert the funds they have in order so they can afford the essential items and services they need in their daily lives. This may also mean that they can run short of money due to the rising costs in different shops.
How will the delays impact adults who are relying on disability payments?
The significant delays in the rollout of the new Adult Disability Payment benefits system is a deeply concerning and distressing issue for disabled people throughout Scotland. The extended waiting times not only undermine the purpose of creating a more compassionate system for those with disabilities but also directly impact their financial support and well-being. For example, 57% of disabled people receiving the current Personal Independence Payments (PIP) of £650 said it is still not enough to cover their increased costs for essentials. This ADP rollout delay will only exacerbate this financial concern for disabled households.
To help solve the problems that disabled people are facing when trying to access support, they should try to ensure that they include as much supporting evidence as possible to help their application progress. This way there is less likely to be any come back when you submit the application and much less chance of being rejected.
