Scottish Adult Disability Payments?

[weeghostytoasty]

Has anyone applied for this and can tell me what the process is currently like? I have been disabled by Chronic Migraines for about a decade now and haven't worked in as long. I am technically classes as being on a sickness benefit but I no longer get any payments as my partner earns just over the threshold and so he has to support me.

Until recently I had a treatment via the NHS which helped make my life a bit more manageable but it has now been withdrawn (new NHS guidelines) and things are so much worse. I have trauma from applying for benefits in the past and so wanted to avoid applying for any extra support but I'm on my knees and now unable to cope.

If anyone has any experience or advice that would be great, I don't know what to expect at all, if I'd need to attend an appointment for example? How long it takes? Any information would be appreciated.

The process is very similar to PIP, but without the face to face assessment. The emphasis is firmly on the evidence from your health care providers.

I found that any evidence that wasn’t from my medical records wasn’t taken into account, but all the people I spoke to but one were helpful and pleasant.

It’s a long form but it’s worth applying if you have significant difficulties in everyday life.

@DaffodilValley I don't have access to my medical records so it will be hard to stick to exactly what they say. I have an appointment with neurology where I will bring them up to date with how things have been for me before applying. I have a pile of Neurology appointment letters going back over 10 years.

It might be worth asking for help from SSS with filling in the form, I did that and they were brilliant.
I typed it all out first but the man talked me through the whole thing and suggested wording that put things across much better than I did.

You can also get help from Citizen’s Advice if you prefer an independent eye on your application.

Oh, and I requested my medical records from my GP myself and uploaded them manually to the SSS website. There were 65 pages but it saved a lot of time waiting for them to do it themselves.

So.
ADP is long but straightforward to do the application if you follow the format and write a reasonable amount of detail in each box.

Provide a decent amount of info - don’t just say I can’t do x because of migraine, explain what it is you can’t do and what it is about migraine that stops you doing it. Remember to include frequency ie x days out of 7/a month/a year.

If doing the form online, don’t tick no to the first box in each section that says can you…? It then stops you even seeing the follow up questions that you need to provide more detail. Yes, the system is crap…!

Dont, despite all the advice elsewhere, fill out the form on the basis of your worst day. It’s about the majority of days and this is clearly stated on the form. Cases are generally reviewed by practitioners who will know whether it’s likely that restrictions really are that bad on the majority of days, so exaggerating in this way doesn’t help you.

Appointment letters are useless as supporting information. Get a letter from your neurologist with full list of conditions, medications and tests/investigations. Get them to detail
the restrictions you have with activities of daily
living ie cooking, washing, dressing, engaging with others, managing money and medication. Also get what is called a patient summary from your gp as gps are sloooooow about responding to requests for supporting information and don’t provide much detail. Patient summary is much better.

Finally, the criteria are all about the majority of days and only about the activities listed. It’s not about fitness to work, and while they activities in no way cover all aspects of life, they are the only ones assessed in. SSS are not evil like PIP, no national averages and performance plans for not giving out average points, so each case is assessed individually. If you are contacted for more info, it’s not trying to catch you out, it’s because there isn’t enough info to decide on a descriptor choice.

You can guess where I spend my 9-5…!
All the best.

@Teampianistrules Thank you for replying in such detail, that is really helpful. I do have a few questions though.

When you say write a reasonable amount, do you mean write in a bit of detail rather than just one line?

"the majority of days" This is really hard as I have days when I am more of less fine, tired but not in pain, then days where I am in severe pain and unable to do much of anything and days when I am recovering from an attack or getting another and feel exhausted and cognitively impaired or sleep deprived from having be up all night with a migraine, or coping with medication side effects. There isn't an average kind of day.

When I speak with the migraine nurses in a few weeks I will ask about a letter but this will be the first time I have spoken to them about how bad things have got since my pervious treatment has stopped, so I am not sure how that will go or if they will be ok to do a letter. I can ask though. Perhaps this might even help me get the old treatment or another treatment going forward that might improve things. Ultimately I guess I am embarrassed about claiming benefits and usually minimise things.

When you say majority days with migraine I don't become physically unable to move to say bath or dress but the pain and nausea it causes me to do those things mean I simply don't do them so I don't typically need help because I'm too sick to get out of bed or do anything, even listening to talk radio quietly is impossible. I worry this kind of thing doesn't really fit the scope of the application.

Sorry for all the questions, no need to respond if you can't. I appreciate what you have written already and the reassurance that it is indeed more humane than the system for PIP.

@DaffodilValley I'm in awe at how proactive you were! I feel so inhibited by all that asking for my medical records and so on. I asked years ago at my old surgery and was sent away with a flea in my ear and the definite feeling they didn't want to provide that. I know some surgeries make them available online but mine don't unfortunately.

I probably would prefer someone independent like CAB but I will bear that SSS off this service. Thank you!

Hello are you able to provide any insight into the waiting times at all please? I applied 7th August and my application has been with a case manager since 29th September