Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Lothian)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will review and aim to simplify the disability benefit application process for children and young people diagnosed with cancer, including reducing any delays caused where medical evidence is required to determine eligibility.
Answered by Somerville, Shirley-Anne - Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice
For disability benefit applications, Social Security Scotland requires one piece of supporting evidence on an individual’s condition or disability to understand the impact their condition has on their daily life.
Applicants can request Social Security Scotland collects supporting evidence on their behalf. While gathering this information can take time, it allows for robust decision-making.
Social Security Scotland works with Local Authorities, Health Boards and GP practices across the country to make it faster and easier for them to send supporting information. Social Security Scotland also encourages people to provide supporting information which they may not realise they have, such as prescription lists, medical reports, and social care assessments.
The Adult and Child Disability Payment application forms also invite clients to tell Social Security Scotland about any supporting information to allow their application to be processed more efficiently. Supporting Information can be uploaded digitally or sent to Social Security Scotland in the post.
Social Security Scotland has a dedicated application route for terminally ill children and young people, and anyone in Scotland diagnosed with a terminal illness by their healthcare professional can apply for disability benefits under Special Rules for Terminal Illness.
Social Security Scotland has reduced processing times for disability benefits, with latest statistics showing decisions on new applications have been made faster than the previous financial year. Latest statistics can be found at: Social Security Scotland - Statistics.
Mar. 24 2025
Source Page: Public appointment: Member reappointed to Scottish Commission on Social Security BoardFound: social security law and practice.
Laid - 11 Mar 2025 In Force 6 Apr 2025
These Regulations amend the Social Security (Contributions) Regulations 2001 (“the Contributions Regulations”) from 6th April 2025. They are made in consequence of annual regulations setting the rate at which Class 2 National Insurance contributions are payable which are made under section 141 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 and …
Found: Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992(1) and by sections 117(1) and 171(3) and (10) of the Social
Laid - 13 Mar 2025 In Force 6 Apr 2025
These Regulations amend the Statutory Maternity Pay (Compensation of Employers) and Miscellaneous Amendment Regulations 1994 (S.I. 1994/1882) (“the principal GB regulations”) and the Statutory Maternity Pay (Compensation of Employers) and Miscellaneous Amendment Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1994 (S.R. 1994 No. 271) (“the principal NI Regulations”).
Found: Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992(1) and sections 163(1), (2)(b) and (7) and 171(3) and (
Asked by: Balfour, Jeremy (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party - Lothian)
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of concerns raised by Young Lives vs Cancer that almost half of patients in Scotland finish their cancer treatment before receiving a decision regarding disability benefit claims due to lengthy waits, what assessment it has made of the adequacy of Social Security Scotland’s disability benefits processing times for children and young people with cancer.
Answered by Somerville, Shirley-Anne - Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice
There are a number of factors that impact on how long it takes Social Security Scotland to make a decision on disability benefit applications, including the time taken to gather the supporting information required to make a decision on an application.
Social Security Scotland continues to work with Local Authorities, Health Boards and GP practices across the country to make it faster and easier for them to send supporting information, and is seeing improvements.
The last nine months of official statistics for Child Disability Payment shows Social Security Scotland has made decisions on new applications almost twice as fast as in the previous financial year. The latest official statistics publication can be found at: Social Security Scotland - Child Disability Payment: high level statistics to 31 December 2024.
The latest Adult Disability Payment official statistics publication shows Social Security Scotland has made faster decisions on applications over the last year, with average processing times decreasing significantly in the last ten months, when compared to the previous financial year. Latest Adult Disability Payment statistics can be found at: Social Security Scotland - Adult Disability Payment statistics to 31 January 2025
Social Security Scotland has a dedicated application route for terminally ill children and young people, and anyone in Scotland diagnosed with a terminal illness by their healthcare professional can apply for disability benefits under Special Rules for Terminal Illness. Published data shows that applications under the Special Rules for Terminal Illness are currently processed within three working days for Child Disability Payment and two working days for Adult Disability Payment.
Published - Wednesday 15th January 2025
Department: HM TreasuryThis Order amends the Child Benefit (Rates) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/965); the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 (c. 4); and the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (c. 7).
Found: Amendment of Schedule 4 to the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 19923.
Laid - 15 Jan 2025 In Force 7 Apr 2025
This Order amends the Child Benefit (Rates) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/965); the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 (c. 4); and the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (c. 7).
Found: Amendment of Schedule 4 to the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 19923.
Correspondence
Inquiry: The extra costs of living with a disabilityFound: 1 Social Justice and Social Security Committee Jane O’Donnell Chief Executive COSLA
Correspondence
Inquiry: The extra costs of living with a disabilityFound: 1 Social Justice and Social Security Committee Rt Hon Mel Stride Secretary of State for
Correspondence
Inquiry: The extra costs of living with a disabilityFound: Social Justice and Social Security Committee Shirley -Anne Somerville