Child Disability Payment (CDP) reviews: FOI release

Information requested

You requested information regarding review periods, specifically the set time for Social Security

Scotland to check if an individual is still entitled to Child Disability Payment (CDP).

Request for information 1:

The average length of a review period for Child Disability Payment (CDP).

Request for information 2:

The modal review period for Child Disability Payment (CDP)

Request for information 3:

The number of claimants who have a review period of: 

• less than one year
• between one and two years
• between two and five years
• between five and ten years
• 10 years

For each figure, please reveal what proportion of the overall caseload it is.

Request for information 4:

Provide a breakdown of Child Disability Payment (CDP) review periods by award level.

Response

We have interpreted your request to relate to review periods for clients who are currently eligible for Child Disability Payment (CDP).

Request for information 1:

The mean (average) review period for Child Disability Payment (CDP is 35.29 months.

Request for information 2:
The modal review period for Child Disability Payment (CDP) is 24 months.

Request for information 3:

The table below shows the number of scheduled reviews set for each time period, please be aware that these figures are established from internal management information based on analysis completed on 28 October 2025. We are still quality assuring the underlying data and expect these figures to change and be improved as we further understand the data.

It should also be noted that Child Disability Payment (CDP) has age related milestones that require are view, for example the child’s third and fifth birthday, that should be taken into account when interpreting the data.

CDP Review Period in Months	Scheduled Reviews
0-12	5,497
13-24	29,123
25-36	24,800
37-48	13,254
49-60	9,444
61+	5,222

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance Social Security Scotland does not have some of the information you have requested, this is because the information provided around review periods has been taken from management information which is produced by different methodologies to those used when establishing the overall caseload, these sub-sets of data are not currently linked. As such, we do not hold information on what proportion of the overall caseload is accounted for by the above data. There is no requirement under the legislation for authorities to create new information in response to a request.

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

Request for information 4:

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance Social Security Scotland does not have some of the information you have requested, this is because the information provided around review periods has been taken from management information which is produced by different methodologies to those used when establishing the award level of Child Disability Payment (CDP) awards, these sub-sets of data are not currently linked. There is no requirement under the legislation for authorities to create new information in response to a request.

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

It may be of interest for you to know that Social Security Scotland publishes statistics for Child Disability Payment (CDP), including data related to reviews. The most recent publication covers up to 30 June 2025, with the next release due for 18 November 2025. You can access the publication via the link below:

Child Disability Payment: statistics to 30 June 2025 - Social Security Scotland

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.