South Lanarkshire residents are now able to apply for the Scottish Government’s Adult Disability Payment.
Anyone in the area who is aged between 16 and state pension age, is disabled, has a long-term health condition or terminal illness can apply to the new payment which is replacing the UK Government’s Personal Independence Allowance.
If you are a recipient of PIP and Disability Living Allowance, you do not need to make an application for the new payment, your existing awards will transfer automatically from the DWP to Social Security Scotland.
Cases will transfer in stages starting from this summer and are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2025.
South Lanarkshire Council, along with North Lanarkshire Council and Angus Council are the second pilot phase of the roll out of the Adult Disability Payment prior to it being introduced across Scotland on 29 August. It was successfully introduced in Perth, Dundee and the Western Isles in March this year.
Minister for Social Security Ben Macpherson said: “We are taking a positive, responsible and compassionate approach to delivering disability benefits, centred around our principles of dignity, fairness and respect.
"Adult Disability Payment is the twelfth Scottish benefit to be introduced, and without doubt the most complex.
“People can apply for Adult Disability Payment in the way that suits them best. As well as online and over the phone, local delivery staff can provide pre-application advice and encourage people to take up their entitlements.
"I encourage those who think they could be eligible to check and apply.
“We would urge people who think that they may need additional support in applying, as well as with re‑determinations and appeals, to consider using VoiceAbility, an independent advocacy service that we are funding.
“Our approach to delivering disability benefits has been designed with people with lived experience of disability benefits, and we are taking a different approach to that of the UK Government.
"People will be treated with dignity and respect and we will start from a position of trust.
"There will be no private sector assessors and clients will be given greater choice to help them, including times and locations of meetings, with home visits available.”
Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here.
And did you know Lanarkshire Live is on Facebook? Head on over and give us a like and share!
