Greens raise alarm over fall in disability payment approvals
Scottish Greens have raised concerns over the reported fall in the proportion of Adult Disability Payment applications being approved, warning that disabled people may be missing out on vital support.
Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health, Kayleigh Kinross-O'Neill MSP will raise the issue at Holyrood today, following her written question, asking the Scottish Government what is being done to help eligible applicants access the support they need, following reports that the proportion of applications approved has fallen from 57% to 34%.
Adult Disability Payment is intended to support disabled people, people with long-term health conditions and terminally ill people with the extra costs they face.
Scottish Greens say that the sharp fall in approval rates must be urgently examined to ensure that eligible people are not being put off, left unsupported or forced through unnecessary re-determinations and appeals.
Scottish Green MSP Kayleigh Kinross-O'Neill said:
“Adult Disability Payment should be there to support disabled people with the extra costs and barriers they face. The huge reported fall in approval rates is deeply worrying and needs urgent attention.
“Behind every statistic, there’s an applicant who may be struggling with their health, their mobility, their independence or the cost of daily life.
"Advice services and local representatives regularly hear from people who are anxious about applying, unsure what evidence they need, or worried that they will not be believed.
“If eligible people are being turned down or put off from applying, then the system is not working as it should.
“I want to know what action the Scottish Government is taking to understand why approval rates have fallen and what is being done to make sure disabled people can get the support they are entitled to, because the Adult Disability Payment must be accessible in practice, not just in principle."
Kayleigh added:
“As someone with a disability, I understand how hard it can be to get the support I’m entitled to.
"The Scottish Social Security system is hailed as being an improvement of the DWP’s system. We must ensure it continues to be fairer and accessible for people.
Time and time again, people in my life that share similar challenges are knocked back, confused about where to go for support and ultimately worse-off because of it.
“For a system that is designed to support people with disabilities, the process itself has become another challenge to deal with for many, potentially driving them to the point of not bothering to claim the support they are entitled to in the first place.
"That has to end and the Scottish Government must do more to ensure those that are entitled to that support, receive it.”