The Scottish Government's new Adult Disability Payment begins in Moray this week

THE new Adult Disability Payment has increased to seven more areas ahead of the national roll out.

People in Aberdeenshire, City of Aberdeen, Fife, Moray, East Ayrshire, North Ayrshire, and South Ayrshire are now able to apply for the Scottish Government's Adult Disability Payment.

The programme launched in three pilot areas in March and is now available in 13 council areas ahead of opening nationwide on 29 August.

The Adult Disability Payment is 12th new benefit to be delivered by the Scottish Government and replaces the UK Government’s Personal Independence Payment.

The benefit provides financial support to people aged between 16 and state pension age, who are disabled, have a long-term health condition or have a terminal illness.

Over 300,000 people will be part of the case transfer from Personal Independence Payment to Adult Disability Payment along with around 39,000 people are currently in receipt of Working Age Disability Living Allowance.

People who are already receiving the UK Government’s Personal Independence Payment and Disability Living Allowance do not need to make an application for Adult Disability Payment.

Any existing awards will transfer automatically from the DWP to Social Security Scotland. The cases will transfer in stages starting from this summer with this process is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.

Minister for Social Security Ben Macpherson said: “We are taking a positive, responsible and compassionate approach to delivering disability benefits. This is in contrast to aspects of the current UK Government system. The Scottish Government is committed to treating people with dignity, fairness and respect and we start from a position of trust.

“Adult Disability Payment is an important financial support to provide security and help people live well. I would encourage anyone in Scotland who could be eligible to please check and apply. We want people to get support that they’re entitled to, because social security is a shared investment to help build a fairer and better society together.

“When people apply for our disability benefits, we are focused on making the right decisions first time to reduce the need for people to go through a redetermination or appeal.

When Social Security Scotland is making a decision it will only need one formal piece of supporting information from a professional, such as a social care assessment, medical report or prescription list, and if required we will obtain that information for people. We will never use the private sector to carry out health assessments and there won’t be any degrading functional examinations such as asking a client to ‘touch their toes’.”

When Adult Disability Payment is nationwide at the end of August, where someone reports a relevant change, or their award is due to be renewed, or they request to transfer, their case will be transferred to Adult Disability Payment on a like-for-like basis. Their award will then be reviewed in line with the usual Adult Disability Payment rules after the transfer completes.