Independent Review of Adult Disability Payment: call for evidence

Section 2 – Pre-application support for Adult Disability Payment applications

The Scottish Government says it is committed to delivering a social security system that is based on fairness, dignity and respect. In order to achieve its goal, the Scottish Government has established two services to help people access the social security system in Scotland: the Local Delivery Service and the Independent Advocacy Service.

Local Delivery Service

The Scottish Government has set up the Local Delivery Service in every local authority across Scotland to help support people applying for social security benefits.

A Local Delivery appointment allows people to get private and confidential support with an application from a trained client support adviser, or just ask questions about the application process.

A client support adviser can answer questions about applying for Scottish Government benefits, assist with filling in and submitting applications and forms, and let people know what type of supporting information they will need to provide.

Supporting information is information that:

• confirms someone’s conditions, disability, or needs
• describes the impact someone’s conditions or disability have on their life.

Supporting information could include documents or letters but can include other types of information.

As noted in the context to this call for evidence, we recognise that gathering supporting information for an application for Adult Disability Payment is a key issue for many people. An evaluation of supporting information was undertaken by the Scottish Government as part of its disability benefits evaluation strategy. The supporting information evaluation gathered the views of stakeholders and was published by the Scottish Government in September 2023. The Independent Review will use these findings, which is why no specific questions on supporting information have been included in this call for evidence.

People can arrange to speak with a client support adviser at a location and time that suits them, for example:

• at a venue in their local community
• in a person’s home
• in a hospital or prison
• via video call
• via telephone appointment.

Independent Advocacy Service

The Scottish Government has set up an Independent Advocacy Service. It has appointed a charity called VoiceAbility to deliver this service and the Scottish Government funds this service.

The agreement between the Scottish Government and VoiceAbility means it must ensure support is available to disabled people to help them engage effectively with Social Security Scotland. The service provides independent advocates who can help people to:

• make sure they are understood
• say what they think, want or need
• understand and ask questions about benefits
• understand how to apply for benefits
• understand letters, application forms, phone calls and meetings with Social Security Scotland
• make sure they have information they need to help make decisions
• understand what to do if they are not happy.

An advocate will not:

• provide advice about benefits
• offer legal advice
• make decisions for the person
• share their own views or opinion.

People can ask for an advocate’s help at any time, not just when they are applying for Adult Disability Payment.

The independent review has heard from early engagement that some people applying for Adult Disability Payment might not know what support is available.

The following questions ask about the pre-application support provided by Social Security Scotland, which includes the Local Delivery Service and the Independent Advocacy Service.

How the UK Government offers pre-application support for PIP

For context, the UK Government does not offer a dedicated equivalent to the Local Delivery Service for PIP. It offers a home visiting service through the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), who decide who is eligible for this and applicants cannot book a visit themselves. DWP may offer a home visit if someone is disabled, has complex needs, has no one else to support them or cannot apply for benefits in any other way.

The UK Government does not offer an equivalent to the Independent Advocacy Service.

Question 4

Thinking about the pre-application services provided by Social Security Scotland, can you provide specific examples of:

(a) Parts of those services that are working well?

(b) Parts of those services that don’t work, are confusing or could be further improved?

Question 5

What evidence exists about the impact of the following pre-application services in supporting people making an application for Adult Disability Payment:

(a) Social Security Scotland’s Local Delivery Service

(b) the Independent Advocacy Service.

Question 6

What evidence exists about what factors influence people approaching third sector or other public sector services for support with Adult Disability Payment?