Adult Disability Payment Consultation - Views Sought On Mobility Element Of Disability Benefit
31st January 2023
People are being encouraged to share their views on how a Scottish Government disability benefit supports their mobility needs.
The consultation on eligibility for the Adult Disability Payment mobility element will gather evidence to feed into a wider independent review. Ministers committed to this review to ensure the payment meets people's needs now and in the future.
The mobility element, one of two components to the payment, supports people who have difficulties moving around or planning and following journeys.
Social Security Minister Ben Macpherson said, "Adult Disability Payment was developed in close co-operation with disabled people as part of our commitment to ensure Scotland's social security system is delivered with dignity, fairness and respect.
"We want to hear a broad range of views on the eligibility criteria for the mobility element of Adult Disability Payment, particularly from people who are in receipt of disability benefits. We have already improved the application process for disability payments, while maintaining our commitment to safely and securely transferring people's payments from the UK Government. We'd like to know about people’s experiences of this improved system.
"To anyone who receives Adult Disability Payment, or has views on how it is delivered, I would encourage you to respond to our consultation."
Adult Disability Payment, delivered by Social Security Scotland, was launched in August 2022 to replace the UK Government’s Personal Independence Payment. It provides financial support to people aged between 16 and state pension age who are disabled, have a long-term health condition or a terminal illness. There are two parts: the mobility element, and a daily living element for people who experience difficulties with day-to-day activities such as preparing a meal or bathing.
Further information on the payment is available on mygov.scot.
See https://www.mygov.scot/adult-disability-payment
The consultation, focusing on the mobility element, will run for 12 weeks and will close on 25 April. See https://consult.gov.scot/social-security/adult-disability-payment-review/
Overview
Adult Disability Payment is the twelfth payment now delivered by Social Security Scotland. It replaces Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in Scotland, and it will provide support to over 510,000 disabled people by 2025.
In designing this new payment, we have carefully listened to the views of disabled people, stakeholders, and the public. We have made several improvements to Adult Disability Payment over PIP. These include substantial improvements to the application and decision-making process.
The eligibility rules for Adult Disability Payment have remained largely the same as under PIP as part of our commitment to a safe and secure transition of the devolution of social security payments. This is to avoid having two sets of eligibility criteria before completing the transfer of people’s payments from the UK Government to Social Security Scotland by 2025.
We recognise that there is considerable interest from disabled people and stakeholders about the eligibility criteria for the mobility component. We are consulting on the eligibility criteria for the mobility component to seek a broad range of views on this matter.
This consultation does not set out or advocate a preferred Scottish Government position or policy. Instead, this consultation is an opportunity for the people of Scotland and our stakeholders to provide views on the evidence presented on the mobility component.
The Scottish Government is committed to beginning an independent review of Adult Disability Payment later this year.
