ILF Scotland
ILF Scotland

Welfare Rights Update

Post Date: 15 June 2023
Two ladies sit a table in a cafe and look at a laptop. The lady on the left is white and blonde. She wears a tartan dress. She has a limb missing. On the right is a black lady. She wears a bright pink jacket and green shirt. Her dreadlocked hair has different colours at the ends. The ILF logo sits in the top right corner in white. Text at the bottom, in white, reads Welfare Check Update.
Two ladies sit a table in a cafe and look at a laptop. The lady on the left is white and blonde. She wears a tartan dress. She has a limb missing. On the right is a black lady. She wears a bright pink jacket and green shirt. Her dreadlocked hair has different colours at the ends. The ILF logo sits in the top right corner in white. Text at the bottom, in white, reads Welfare Check Update.

A recent report by Age Concern indicated that there is currently £2.4billion pounds in unclaimed Pension and Housing Credit.

So how do you check that you’re getting all the benefits that you’re entitled to?

See below and be sure to check at the end for links to benefit calculators and for organisations that are there to help you.

Disability Living Allowance and Personal Independent Payment Transfer to Adult Disability Payment (Scotland only)

In Scotland, Adult Disability Payment (ADP) is replacing Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Personal Independence Payment (PIP). Social Security Scotland are now managing these payments.

57,000 people have already transferred since October 2021 with the remaining 339,000 set to transfer by the end of 2025.

This is happening automatically so you don't need to reapply. There will be minimum disruption and you will receive a letter of confirmation when your transfer is complete.

With the ADP there will be no face-to-face assessments and your eligibility will be based on medical evidence rather than having to perform tasks in front of an advisor.

New Claims for Adult Disability Payment

We encourage anyone who is eligible to apply for Adult Disability Payment (ADP).

The current form is quite lengthy but you can receive assistance to fill in the form by local advisors.

The current waiting time between application and acceptancve is approximately 4-5 months. Your eligibility is based on evidence from medical professionals, social workers, Occupational Therapists and health assessments. It is not based on face-to-face interviews or evaluation of you performing tasks.

Your condition / health issue should be evident for at least 13 weeks before the date of application.

To find out more about ADP visit Adult Disability Payment - mygov.scot

Cost of Living Support

£900 will be made available in 2023 and 2024 to those on means-tested benefits as a cost-of-living support payment.

If you’re entitled, you will get:

  • £301 paid between 25 April 2023 and 17 May 2023 for most people on DWP benefits
  • £301 paid between 2 and 9 May 2023 for most people on tax credits and no other low income benefits
  • £300 paid during autumn 2023 for most people
  • £299 paid during spring 2024 for most people

A £150 Disability Payment is due between 20 June 2023 and 4 July 2023 while a £300 additional Winter Fuel Payment is due to pensioners during Winter 2023/24.

If you’re in Northern Ireland, visit https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/cost-living-payments for more information.

If you’re in Scotland, visit https://www.gov.uk/guidance/cost-of-living-payment.

About Pension Credit

Pension Credit gives you extra money to help with your living costs if you’re over State Pension age and on a low income. Pension Credit can also help with housing costs such as ground rent or service charges.

To find out if you’re eligible and to apply visit Pension Credit: Overview - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

You may also be entitled to a Severe Disability Addition. See Disability premiums: Eligibility - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

You can apply for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) if you have a disability or health condition that affects how much you can work.

ESA gives you:

  • money to help with living costs if you’re unable to work
  • support to get back into work if you’re able to

You can apply if you’re employed, self-employed or unemployed.

You must be under the state pension age to apply, have been in work at some point and have paid some National Insurance contributions.

For more information and to apply visit Employment and Support Allowance (ESA): Overview - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Further Reading

RightsNet have produced a comprehensive poster showing all the Benefit and Tax Credit Rates for 2023-2024. View and download the poster at RightsNet.

More Support

For more support visit:

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