Disability benefit claims with initial rejection overturned for 2020-2021: FOI release

Information requested

"The proportion of disability benefit claims which saw the initial rejection overturned for 2020-2021.”

Response

Child Disability Payment

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we do not hold the information you have requested in relation Child Disability Payment. This is because, as of the date of your request, no Child Disability application has had an initial rejection overturned.

Child Disability Payment is the only disability benefit currently administered directly by Social Security Scotland. The Department for Work and Pensions currently administers the remainder of the disability benefits devolved by the Scotland Act 2016 through Agency Agreements between the Scottish Ministers and the Department for Work and Pensions.

Social Security Scotland are currently piloting the Child Disability Payment across three Local Authority areas; Dundee City, Perth and Kinross and the Western Isles. Social Security Scotland will open for new Child Disability Payment applications for all remaining Local Authority areas in Scotland from 22 November 2021.

You may be aware that we have published some high level statistics on Child Disability Payment. Future publications will include any statistics on the outcomes of redeterminations.

Child Winter Heating Assistance

Child Winter Heating Assistance was introduced in November 2020 by Social Security Scotland. To get the payment they must meet the eligibility criteria on at least one day in the "qualifying week". In 2020, the qualifying week began on Monday 21 September. The majority of Child Winter Heating Assistance payments are made automatically without requiring an application. In limited circumstances clients may also apply for Child Winter Heating Assistance. This could apply for example when a child or young person no longer lives in Scotland, but has a link to Scotland, for example that they, or their parent or guardian, have spent a significant part of their life in Scotland. Clients may also need to apply for Child Winter Heating Assistance if they receive a backdated Disability Living Allowance award for the qualifying week. In these circumstances clients may apply by phone or by completing a paper form.

In relation to Child Winter Heating Assistance, the number that had the initial rejection overturned was two. We have published information on Child Winter Heating Assistance on our website.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.