WIREDGOV

Financial support for families of children with a disability available nationwide.

Child Disability Payment opens for new applications across the country from today.

For the first time anywhere in the UK, disability benefit applicants can apply online, as well as by phone, post or face-to-face.

This is the first of three complex disability benefits to be introduced nationwide by the Scottish Government. This new payment replaces the UK Government’s Disability Living Allowance for children.

Those already receiving Disability Living Allowance for children do not need to apply. These approximately 52,000 current cases are being automatically transferred in phases from the Department for Work and Pensions to Social Security Scotland. This will be completed by spring 2023.

Child Disability Payment, which will be administered by Social Security Scotland, provides families with support for extra costs that a disabled child might have.

The national roll out to all local authority areas follows successful pilots in Dundee City, Perth & Kinross and the Western Isles.

Minister for Social Security Ben Macpherson said:

“I’m really pleased that Child Disability Payment is now available to eligible families all over Scotland.

“This is a significant milestone in the introduction of our new social security system. Families who find themselves in need of support will be able to access this help in a way that suits them best.

“Those who currently receive Disability Living Allowance for children from the DWP will also be transferred to Social Security Scotland. They will be told when this is happening and will find their payments transferred safely and securely within the next 18 months. Payments will be made at the same rate and there will be no break in entitlement.

“In the months and years ahead thousands of families will benefit from our simplified and much less stressful system, which will treat everyone with dignity, fairness and respect.

“Social security is a shared investment in building a fairer Scotland and we encourage those who are eligible for support to apply.”

Background

Child Disability Payment provides money to help with the extra care and mobility costs children and young people with a disability may have, up to the age of 18.

People can find out more and apply through mygov.scot or by calling 0800 182 2222.

Those already receiving Disability Living Allowance for children do not need to make a new application as we will contact them ahead of their award being automatically transferred. This is happening in a phased approach and we aim to have the transfer process completed for everyone in receipt of Disability Living Allowance for children by spring 2023.

The transfer has begun with the cases of those aged 16 or over in receipt of Disability Living Allowance for children and those with a terminal illness being selected first. All other clients aged up to 16-years-old will have their award transferred from spring 2022.

Awards will continue to be made at the same rates as clients’ previous Disability Living Allowance for children payments and there will be no break in entitlement in line with our commitment to a safe and secure transfer.

Child Disability Payment is the first of the three complex disability benefits to be introduced by the Scottish Government that will replace current UK benefits. Adult Disability Payment will be introduced in 2022.