Seòmar agus comataidhean

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-22099 on 20 March 2019. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx '.

I refer to the previous answer to S5W-22077. As DWP have not confirmed how many working-age people in receipt of Disability Living Allowance will not have been migrated to Personal Independence Payment at the date of transfer of Executive Competence, we cannot confirm how many working age Disability Living Allowance cases will be handled for the purposes of transfer. We are still formulating policy if DWP do not complete the migration of working age Disability Living Allowance by the date of transfer of Executive Competence, and are still in discussions with DWP. As noted in my social security statement on 28th February I will "report back to Parliament once discussions are more advanced".

Guidance on decision making timeframes is being developed for Social Security Scotland case managers. The guidance will set out how decisions will be reached by case managers, using a person-centred approach.

Through advice from clinical experts, significant developmental milestones for children will be defined within guidance being developed for Social Security Scotland case managers. The guidance will set out where exceptions to the Scottish Government policy on award duration apply.

As stated in the answer to question S5W-22084, the Scottish Government will undertake modelling to determine the proportion of assessors who will be required to undergo specialist training.

The Disability Assistance consultation is focussed on the new benefits we will be introducing in Scotland. People over 65 applying for Disability Assistance for the first time will not be able to apply for Disability Living Allowance and as outlined in the consultation paper, will apply for Disability Assistance for Older People. Scottish people over 65 already receiving Disability Living Allowance, will be transferred to the Scottish Government as outlined in the policy position paper published on Case Transfer.

The policy paper can be found here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/social-security-case-transfer-policy-position-paper/pages/1/ .

The forecast of 89,800 provided in response to question S5W-22046 included cases in payment and with entitlement. We do not have forecasts which separately model the off flow in cases between "with entitlement” and “in payment” for existing cases to be transferred. I can confirm that older people who are entitled to Attendance Allowance but are not in payment will be transferred to disability assistance for older people.

The Scottish Government will introduce Short-Term Assistance (STA) which will be available to clients who have an award reduced or stopped as a result of an entitlement decision and will ensure they will continue to be paid the full value of their assistance, where they have challenged the decision. If they are a customer of the Accessible Vehicle and Equipment Scheme and they are in receipt of STA, they will continue to be eligible to access the scheme until at least the conclusion of their challenge. This is, however, subject to HMRC and HM Treasury agreement to extend relevant tax exemptions to clients in receipt of STA. The assistance will not be recoverable, regardless of whether or not the challenge of the initial decision was upheld.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-22100 on 20 March 2019. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx ' /.

The Scottish Government is currently consulting on Short-term Assistance as part of the consultation on Disability Assistance.

We are holding discussions with COSLA and other stakeholders during the consultation period as we develop our policy proposals.