You may have heard that Social Security Scotland recently introduced a new disability allowance for adults living in Scotland called Adult Disability Payment.
This new allowance will eventually replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for anyone in Scotland aged between 16 years and State Pension age.
As part of this process, Social Security Scotland will shortly start transferring anyone currently receiving PIP, and some people receiving DLA, onto Adult Disability Payment. We wanted to explain what this means and when you may be hearing about your transfer.
When will transfers start?
The first people to be transferred to Adult Disability Payment should be notified around 13 June 2022 that their transfer is now underway.
As Adult Disability Payment is being rolled out gradually across Scotland, case transfers will start with the same council areas where Adult Disability Payment was first introduced – Dundee, Perth and Kinross and the Western Isles. Transfers will start with anyone in these areas whose PIP award is due to be reviewed in the near future.
Priority will also be given to anyone outside of these council areas whose PIP award is due to finish shortly after 29 August 2022, when Adult Disability Payment will be available across the whole of Scotland.
From the end of August, Social Security Scotland will also start transferring anyone on DLA if they request to transfer or would otherwise have to apply for PIP.
Social Security Scotland hope to complete all transfers by Summer 2024.
How will I be notified?
Both Social Security Scotland and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will send a letter to let you know when you are being transferred from PIP or DLA to Adult Disability Payment.
Will I need to do anything?
No, Social Security Scotland and DWP will work together to transfer your award.
The Scottish Government have said that during the transfer period there will be no changes in the amount that is paid, no one will have to reapply for their allowance, and no one will be reassessed.
However, if your needs or personal details change during the transfer, you need to tell the DWP as soon as possible. This is because the DWP holds the information about your benefit until Social Security Scotland takes over your payments. They will then pass the information to Social Security Scotland.
You can contact the DWP by calling 0800 121 4600.
How long will it take to be transferred?
It will take around three to four months to complete the transfer and Social Security Scotland will then write to you again letting you know that the transfer has ended, when your Adult Disability Payment award begins and when they will start paying the new allowance.
What if my award is being reassessed with the DWP?
If you have already started your award reassessment with the DWP, that will need to be completed even if it extends beyond 29 August 2022.
No one in Scotland will start the reassessment process with the DWP after 29 August 2022.
Will this affect my Motability Scheme lease?
Existing customers should not experience any disruption to their Motability Scheme lease during this transfer. The DWP will continue to make PIP or DLA payments to us until you are transferred to Adult Disability Payment.
Social Security Scotland will then become responsible for making these payments, but will pay the same amount on the same day with no gaps in your payment schedule.
What if I’m newly joining the Scheme?
You can still apply to join the Scheme whilst going through the transfer from DWP to Social Security Scotland. You will be able to place an order for a vehicle, however you will not be able to collect your new vehicle until the transfer is complete. This is because the DWP cannot arrange new payments to us while your award is being transferred to Social Security Scotland.
Find out more
You can find out more about transferring to Adult Disability Payment on the Social Security Scotland website.
You can also contact Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222, but please note they can only answer general questions about the transfer process.
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