Adult disability payment

[Mumtotwoxo]

Looking for advice on this benefit.
I applied for this just over 2 months ago, I sent 3 forms of proof of illness and had a video call appointment to confirm identity.
I called social security Scotland to check my process of claim and they say it’s awaiting a case manager.
Does anyone know how long I’ll be waiting for a decision?
Seems a very long, drawn out process.

@Rocksdad 🤞that it all works out for you!! As it seems that you deserve it 👍I thought I was doing ok only submitting 10 pieces of supporting information.🙂 I now have a direction thanks to your suggestion of voice ability and since submitting my application I now have more supporting information and my treatments are still ongoing and GP can’t give me a definitive answer, it’s almost as if they don’t want to mention Long COVID amongst other ailments! So yes like you I’m not letting this go, I will take it to the appeal stages if needs be!!

@Piseag123 💪💪 I hope it all works out for you and everyone on this forum. This forum is riddled with horror stories so any info or advice I can give about my situ can maybe help others and we will beat them lol I'll keep checking in and updating if I have more info. Thanks for the chat and let me know how you go! 🤞

@Rocksdad will do and thanks again.

It has been an uphill struggle for me from the start applied in January and been passed from one case manager to another think I am on my 3rd now I provided limited supporting evidence because it is all that I had this information is out of date but me symptoms remain the same nothing has changed in the last 8 years since it all began, I have not seen a GP for 6 years and even though I have told 2 different case managers this they continue to ask the doctor for supporting evidence.
I was hoping for a home visit as I feel with a condition which is variable but soul and life destroying this is the only way to show how my symptoms affect me in daily life unfortunately I have been told I cant ask for a consultation it is down to them to decide if I need one,
I applied for contribution based ESA 8 years ago and the process even with a face to face was so much quicker and less stressful,
Every time I phone or use the web chat I am giving conflicting information so all I can do is wait and hope
wishing everyone the best of luck with there application and hopefully SSS will start getting things done quicker and easier.

@Allyballybee445 🌷

update. I contacted SSS on Friday 20th of October to request a re-determination on the decision that was made on my ADP application I do realise that they have 56 days to make a decision, I have uploaded a further 5 pieces of supporting information of which 2 pieces are a report from my physio and another from my orthopaedic consultant! I may have a further two letters in the next couple of days which I will also upload. Can anyone tell me the likelihood of when I will receive my re-determination decision, will it be the full 56 days or a lot less than 56 days? I do realise that this is like asking “how long is a piece of string”🤔 but any info that can be provided would be most welcomed, many thanks in advance!

@Piseag123 From what I have read on this forum and others most re-determination request are taking the full 56 days and there have been a few who have been contacted as there re-determination has not happened in the time limit who can then either wait longer or go straight to appeal.
They have a large backlog of claims re-determination and swap overs from pip as well as reviews to get through so its not going to be quick,
Its not the best process and hopefully they will get through the backlog in a timely manner the percentage of people who are having there claims denied has increased so they are receiving a lot more re-determination seem to be over worked and under staffed.

Thank you @Allyballybee445 its perfectly understandable that the full 56 days are being used, I am keeping an eye on the run down and going on what you’ve said I will probably hear something around the 15th December! Many thanks 🌷

@Piseag123 i was over the 56 days they actually called me on the 57th day to tell me they never managed it on time but if I could bear with them one more day they did give me the opinion to appeal but I just waited the extra day as he seemed like he did award it as he said my Award letter would be send out on day 58

@Lovelyjubbbly oh…that is good to hear that you were awarded👍, keeping my fingers that the same outcome happens with my re-determination decision, can I ask you, how long did your whole process take from when you first applied to receiving your award?

@Piseag123 I applied in December last year and All in it took around 9 months I was not awarded anything before my redermination 0 points on everything

@Lovelyjubbbly it sounds like a similar length of time, to me, I applied in June, got a decision 16/17th October the decision awarded was 6 for daily living and 4 for mobility! I have since submitted more supporting information so here’s hoping that this time round it will be a positive outcome, it’s really quite stressful!! Glad to hear that you were deservedly awarded 👍

Yes it was my first time applying they can be cruel especially when I gave around 15 types of supporting information I hope it all goes well for you @Piseag123

I think this is where a lot of people get confused. You can send in numerous documents to support the fact that you have a particular disability or condtion, but unless that disability meets the strict eligibility criteria, you won’t get the award you want, and is some cases you won’t qualify at all. Adult Disability Payment is somewhat easier to claim than PIP in England, but essentially the same premise applies. It’s not the disability itself that counts, it’s how it affects you and the problems it presents in your daily life. You need to make sure the evidence you present is relevant to the eligibility criteria, and gives a clear idea of how your disability disadvantages you.

The problem with a reconsideration for one element of the award, is that they won’t just consider the mobility component they will look again at the whole award, and I’ve known claimants have their whole award withdrawn on reconsideration because it goes to a different decision maker, who may not necessarily agree with the original decision - especially if it’s borderline. I caution claimants to this effect and ask them whether they are prepared to risk that before going ahead.

@Rosscameasdoody no I’m well aware of the form is classed on how it affects you. Unfortunately I suffer from severe Endometriosis with it causing a large cyst over 18cm on my ovary plus the endometriosis has spread to my hips back stomach it also affects me in lots of other ways that I’m not going in to detail. The reason I first got declined was because endometriosis gets classed as just a ‘ heavy period’ bearing in mind my body comes out in blood bruises each month in my lower abdomen. THIS affect me every single day and I can’t even get my kids to school myself so I’m well aware on how to fill out the form just most doctors and GPS are not educated in endometriosis

I would think you would have just as much of a problem with the benefit assessors too, as they may not come across this very often, so won’t know much about the full effects. There is a rule that states a condition has to affect a claimant for at least 50% of the time and if they think this is something that only affects you at the time of the month they’re going to refuse on that. Might be worth looking at your medical evidence and making sure it’s absolutely clear that this affects you every day, and that there are details of how you are affected. Often decision makers will take an assessors’ word on the assessment report over actual supporting evidence if there’s any doubt. Like PIP, ADP uses a points system and some people struggle to meet the criteria despite being badly affected.

@Rosscameasdoody maybe you should go back and read the full forum I had a redetermination and received the award I was Entitled too a couple months ago 😕

Yep. Sorry, I missed that. To be clear, this is my field - have been involved with PIP since 2013 and I was only trying to offer help from experience. No offence was meant.

Hi,
Ive been interested reading this thread, thanks for all your help.
I applied first week in Jan 23, got refused and sent redetermination in good time and have today received a letter advising me that they haven’t completed the redetermination in the 56 days time limit and offering me to appeal within 31days. Is it just a dead end now and I’ll need to go down this route? I have called them for updates and not once has anyone mentioned this as an outcome or that my form was in an incorrect department. I sent it in the pre paid envelope they provided me with?!
I have called today and advised them that I am unhappy at how long this has taken to them receive a letter that they haven’t met their timescales and I need to start again in the form of an appeal. She has asked the chap dealing with my claim to call me asap but not sure if this will help things? Anyone have similar experiences? Seems unfair to wait 10 plus months for another dead end.
Anyone know what happens in an appeal, is it face to face? I can’t believe I’m still in this stressful process. I was given 6 points living in my first app and a couple for mobility. Has most people’s points increased in redetermination process or appeal?
Thanks everyone

@Wizwiz This is happening a lot now as more and more people are being declined the percentage of re determinations have increased and they are not hitting the 56 day target from what I have read on this and other forums you can tell them you are willing to wait a bit longer for the re determination to be done which would be a better option than going straight to appeal.
The waiting time for lots of people are shocking I have been waiting nearly 10 months for a decision.

@Rosscameasdoody I have heard of people having there points reduced on redetermination which is why I advised the poster to seek advice if they felt they should have had a higher award

Yep. I’d have done the same. Most claimants don’t realise - and DWP/SSS don’t publicise it well - that they don’t just look at the part that you are disputing, they reconsider the whole award. And it goes to a different decision maker who may disagree with the original decision. I’ve seen quite a few claimants come unstuck like this, so it’s well worth pointing out.

@Wizwiz like you, I received 6 points for daily living and 4 for mobility, put in for re-determination on 20th Oct 2023, started the whole process in June, like @Allyballybee445 said it looks as if it’s becoming quite common for SSS going by the 56 day mark, I checked out the organisation Voiceability, it might worthwhile for you asking for their advice too, fingers crossed for you that you receive ADP, soon🤞I have found that everyone on here have been most helpful too 🌷

Thanks all 😊 Nobody called me back today, as I suspected. Ill look into things on Monday again and look into Voiceability as suggested. It hasn’t been the best process, one issue to the next. I hope it comes to a conclusion soon, especially since it’s approaching the 11 months mark from my date of application. Appreciate everyone’s help 🥰