Scottish Government announces that Child Disability Payment will be introduced from summer 2021, with Adult Disability Payment to follow from spring 2022

Cabinet Secretary also confirms that existing DLA and PIP claimants will begin to transfer to new benefits as soon as they are rolled out nationally

The Scottish Government has announced that Child Disability Payment will be introduced from summer 2021, with Adult Disability Payment to follow from spring 2022.

In an update to the Scottish Parliament on progress in delivering Scotland's devolved social security benefits, Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People Shirley-Anne Somerville said -

'Had it not been for the [coronavirus] pandemic, I believe that we would by now have been delivering Child Disability Payment, with Adult Disability Payment on course to launch early next year, in line with our previous plans. So it was hugely disappointing for me personally when in April I announced that COVID-19 would delay these new benefits. But I know that disappointment is nothing when compared to that felt by disabled people who are rightly looking forward to a better service, based on dignity, fairness and respect.

We have therefore worked hard over the summer, in partnership with DWP and importantly the health and social care professionals we will need, to determine when it might be possible to introduce these two benefits.'

Ms Somerville went to say that -

'My decision, which DWP have agreed to support, is that we will introduce Child Disability Payment from summer next year. There will be an initial pilot to test our systems and processes, followed by full national roll-out in the autumn. The following year, Adult Disability Payment will replace DWP’s Personal Independence Payment, again beginning with a pilot in spring 2022, with full roll-out by summer.'

Ms Somerville also confirmed that claimants in Scotland who currently receive child disability living allowance (DLA) and personal independence payment (PIP) will begin to transfer across to Social Security Scotland as soon as the new benefits are rolled out nationally.

Ms Somerville's statement to the Scottish Parliament is available from gov.scot