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Based on advice from the Disability and Carers Benefits Expert Advisory Group, our Experience Panels and stakeholders, we have decided not to introduce automatic entitlement to disability assistance as it is not deemed to be person centred.

This can be found in our position paper here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/disability-assistance-awards-entitlement-policy-position-paper/pages/1/

Re-determinations and DWP mandatory reconsiderations involve different processes. In our system, a re-determination means that Social Security Scotland will make a fresh determination carried out by a different officer, taking any new evidence into account, which replaces the earlier determination.

The Scottish Government is focused on building a fairer, rights based appeals system that responds to the needs and views of people who receive benefits. Short-term Assistance will be available where a continuing entitlement has been reduced or stopped and that decision is subject to a re-determination or appeal. This will ensure that individuals will not have to manage on a reduced income for a period. We are currently consulting on the timescales for re-determinations for disability assistance and will review our position in light of the responses to the consultation.

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.

From the point that Disability Assistance for older people is launched there will be no new Attendance Allowance cases. The caseload to be migrated will therefore reduce as clients cease to claim the benefit prior to the cases being transferred.

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/ .

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 '.

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.

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".

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 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.