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.

@mami2015 can fully empathise with you there, that’s the frustrating part! Hopefully, the outcome is a good one 👍

I never got my adp. Which I was expecting as I was walking again fine by the time the letter came out.

Now waiting on cdp for my 7yo. I had to phone them last week. But I applied in November so hopefully hear soon as they try to be quicker for kids.

Does anyone know how long change of circumstances are taking?

@Lovelyjubbbly when you report change of circumstances do they stop payments?

@silverclock222 I don’t think so welll I hope not! Sorry I wouldn’t know hopefully someone could be of help

No worries just wasn’t sure how it worked

Still waiting on my decision letter.
When SSS phoned on Friday they asked the usual security questions. She also ask for my banks name and how much I usually get. Could this be a hidden hint that I get a back payment? How long did it take for others to receive their decision letter / payment after a decision was made?

My dp received a call to check his bank details, his was later declined for ADP. So please don't get your hopes up on this basis.

Yep, you shouldn’t take this enquiry as evidence of a successful claim. They check bank details for all sorts of reasons, for example if someone is claiming other benefits and they are being paid into a different account from the one notified to ADP it will generate a check.

It depends on what change you are reporting. If it’s something that they think will result in you no longer being eligible for the benefit, then yes, they will suspend payments while they review. This could be because you have been in hospital for more than four weeks, or because you have gone abroad for more than the permitted period, for example.

If you report a change in your condition and it’s likely to mean a change in your entitlement, your benefit should remain in payment until your claim has been reviewed - they may want to see you face to face to reassess in these circumstances - and your benefit amount will change - up, down or stopped altogether - from the date the new decision was made.

If you change your name, address or GP during the life of the claim, you need to tell them straight away, as if they find out from other sources, they may stop your payments while they make enquiries.

I had a brain hemorrhage/stroke in September, applied on 28th November (both parts online) sent a letter from my physio/ot as evidence. Had a phone call today that I missed so I called back and was advised that my claim was now with a decision maker and I should hear in a couple of weeks. The missed call was just a courtesy call to let me know they had all the information required to make a decision. Not sure what to think.

It’s the assessors who make the decisions as to whether claimants need a face to face assessment. If you haven’t had one, then it’s likely that either the information given in your physio’s letter is enough for the assessor to complete their report, or, if you’ve given details on your application form of any other health care professionals you’re involved with, they may have contacted them for further information - you wouldn’t necessarily be informed of this as you’ve given your permission on the form for them to be contacted.

Either way, they feel they have enough evidence to complete the report and send it through to the ADP decision maker without seeing you in person. It’s important to remember that the assessor doesn’t make the decision as to whether or not benefit is awarded. That’s down to the ADP decision maker, who is not medically qualified, so relies on the assessors’ report to interpret any medical evidence you’ve supplied in order for them to decide on your eligibility. The phone call is just a courtesy to let you know that they won’t need to see you, and that your application, along with the assessors’ report, has now been passed to ADP for a decision. I know it’s easy to say, but don’t jump to any conclusions based on the phone call, as these are routine to keep you informed, and aren’t a reflection of whether the decision is in your favour or not. Good luck.

Thanks for your reply.

I'm hoping to go back to work in a month or two as I haven't been able to claim anything in the way of help since the stroke although I was granted a blue badge.

I will be surprised if they grant me anything tbh.

If your local authority has granted you a blue badge are you sure you’re not eligible for any other form of support such as ESA or the sickness element of UC. Your eligibility for contribution based benefits rests on the last two years NI contributions and the results of the work capability assessment - and other income wouldn’t affect eligilbity. If you are successful with your ADP claim please remember that you’re not obliged to inform them if you return to work - change of circumstance reporting applies to changes in your condition only and earned income has no effect on ADP.

I'm getting 50% of my monthly salary currently and my husband works so we're not entitled to any benefits as our monthly income is too high 5 months on 50% salary is tight.

Ah, that explains it. Best of luck with the ADP claim - hopefully wont be long now before you hear from them, and if you feel the decision is unfair PM me and I will be happy to help if you need to challenge it.

Thank you 👍 hopefully hear soon

Has anyone had a review for their ADP?

What is the process?

I'm interested in this too. I get switched to ADP in April and my review starts in June and the fear has already kicked in. Can't sleep at night over it all. My main worry is losing my motability car. That is my lifeline. I haven't heard much anywhere about ADP reviews. I am hoping that no news is good news!

Hi Girls
I applied for for ADP in August 2023. Got response - determination letter last week. Been awarded Standard Daily living only. I feel it's not right. In both parts so enhanced daily and mobility I am only 1 point from award and they missed many important information when making decision. I thinking about asking for redetermination but I am petrified. I am scared they will stop my payments during process and that money means so much for my situation. I am also afraid that I might loose this what I already have.
I will so grateful if anyone could advise me or tell about their similar situation.
Loads of luck for You all

@RumHam - it's a worry isn't it? I've tried to search online but haven't found much.

From what I've been able to find they might send a letter out asking if you have any changes. If you don't you tick a box to say everything is the same. If you have any changes at all then you would fill out the form and give details. They may request evidence.

I'm thinking that ticking a box to say no changes just sounds too simple!

@MimiAberdeen I suppose it's a Risk you take but I found I was able to add much more detail about my personal circumstances when doing the redetermination. I'm not sure if the money stops though

Ex benefit adviser here. They won’t stop your money while they consider the redetermination request - if you get a higher award as a result they will backdate the difference to the date you applied. You need to keep the request as short and factual as you can - point out the information you think they missed, but remember they don’t award points on the disability itself, but how it affects the activities they assess, so keep that in mind rather than describing the medical aspects of your condition.

You do run the risk of a lower award or losing what you have at reconsideration. This is because it goes to a different decision maker who may not agree with other aspects of the original award - they don’t just reconsider the points you don’t agree with, they look at the whole award again.

The review form consists of a series of questions based on the activities assessed and for each one, asks you to tell them if anything has changed. If not, it’s just a question of saying no, everything has stayed the same. If something has changed tell them what it is, what aspect of your condition has brought about the change, and why, and how you are affected now. If you have evidence to support what you are saying then send a copy with the form, if not you can always send any evidence on afterwards as there will be a deadline for getting the form back. It’s a good idea to have a copy of your original application with you, and a copy of your original decision letter so that you don’t contradict anything you’ve previously said.

@Rosscameasdoody thank you