Adult Disability Payment processes: FOI release

Information requested

Request for information 1: Information about the process whereby Social Security Scotland is informed that a client who has been receiving the Adult Disability Payment is deceased.

Request for information 2: Information about whether clients who receive the ADP need to opt-out of the payment if their circumstances change. (i.e. they recover or from a long-term illness or pass away while receiving the payment).

Response

Request for information 1:

Social Security Scotland are notified of deaths by National Records of Scotland and via the Tell Us Once government service which enables a death to be reported to most government organisations in one go. We can also be informed of a client’s death by their next of kin.

Further information can be found in the below guidance:

Death of an individual for Adult Disability Payment

Request for information 2:

Clients in receipt of Adult Disability Payments must notify Social Security Scotland of changes of circumstance to ensure they continue to receive the correct award and/or to help passport them to any additional support they may need or would qualify for. We inform clients of their obligation to notify us, of changes of circumstance, within their award letter.

The Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 outlines the duty which Social Security Scotland can place on a client to report changes in their circumstances and the consequences of failure to notify.

Section 56 Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 (legislation.gov.uk)

Section 72 Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 (legislation.gov.uk)

The information you have requested is available from The Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018. Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website(s) listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.