Social Security Scotland benefit information: FOI release

Information requested

Request for information 1: The amount of PIP claimants that have had their assessment dates brought forward and fast tracked by Social Security Scotland when claims are transferred.

Request for information 2: Are all claims that are transferred from PIP to ADP given written assessments after their first payment regardless of the assessment date given by PIP.

Request for information 3: Are claimants PIP claims honoured or do they get instantly closed when transferred.

Request for information 4: What justification does Social Security Scotland have to be fast tracking assessment dates when it states this will not happen.

Request for information 5: Will ADP claimants be punished for not allowing access to GP records and private and personal information.

Response

Request for information 1:

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance Social Security Scotland does not have the information you have requested. We do not, as a matter of policy, bring forward review dates, and we do not hold management information data on the order in which claims are worked.

This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that Social Security Scotland does not have the information you have requested.

You may find it useful to review the published case transfer guide at Social Security Scotland - Case transfer guide: PIP to Adult Disability Payment

As a matter of policy, we attempt to honour the latest Personal Independence Payment (PIP) review date set by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) when setting the initial review date for the Adult Disability Payment (ADP) award. This is because this is the date the DWP decision maker believed the person’s condition was likely to change.

It is also important to note that we do not conduct assessments like the DWP does. Our new service is known as a ‘client consultation’, not ‘assessment’, and is built on a relationship of trust with the client and grounded in the professional ethics and expertise of our health and social care practitioners across Scotland. As part of our new approach to consultations, we have removed all functional examinations.

You can read more about the way our client consultations are delivered by our practioners at Adult Disability Payment consultations - mygov.scot

Request for information 2:

We endeavour to honour the DWP review date as far as practicable. When the transfer is complete, the review date is clearly set out in the ADP award letter.

Information on Adult Disability Payment reviews and what happens if your award has been transferred from DWP is available here Adult Disability Payment reviews - mygov.scot

Request for information 3:

Paragraph 12 of Case Transfer Policy- PIP to ADP states in most cases an individual will receive the same components at the same rates of ADP as they received for PIP.

We transfer the person’s award on a like-for-like basis so the ADP award matches the PIP award at the point of transfer, with some limited exceptions where the ADP should be higher.

When case transfer completes, the person’s PIP award ends one day and the ADP award begins on the next day. This ensures there is no gap in entitlement or payment. Paragraph 15 in the above policy explains the circumstances where there may be exceptions to this.

Request for information 4:

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance Social Security Scotland does not have the information you have requested. We do not, as a matter of policy, set ADP reviews earlier than they would have been, had the award not transferred from PIP.

This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that Social Security Scotland does not have the information you have requested.

Information on moving from PIP to ADP and reviews with Social Security Scotland can be found at Personal Independence Payment is moving - mygov.scot

Request for information 5:

Social Security Scotland decision makers rely on information provided by clients and those who support them to make accurate decisions on ADP eligibility. If supporting information is not provided, or consent for Social Security Scotland to gather it from relevant sources is not given, it may delay the decision.

You can find out more about why Social Security Scotland need supporting information at Supporting information for disability benefits - mygov.scot

About FOI

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