Call to simplify Scottish Disability Benefits System

Phil Sim

BBC Scotland Political Correspondent

BBC shows a man's hand on a wheel rim and a leg in a brown suede shoe on a wheel rim. The wheelchair is on a pavement with water view of the body.

An independent review has stated that Scotland’s adult disability benefits should be made easier despite the forecast of rapid increase in claims and costs.

A report commissioned by ministers stated that adult disability payment was a “great foundation” that was “quite kind” than the benefits on the proposal in the rest of the UK.

However, it has been said that many disabled people still found it difficult to navigate the system, and said that eligibility criteria should be reviewed.

As it stands, the number of people claiming payment is estimated to increase from 379,000 in 2024-25 to 703,000 in 2030-31.

The cost is determined to exceed £ 5.4bn per year – a price Scottish ministers say they are ready to pay for a more generous system.

The report states that Scotland’s profit system is more “kind” than the rest of the UK.

Getty Image Stock Image of a person crossing the road with a guide dog - a yellow labrador with a harness. The image shows a person - wearing tight blue jeans and a cream jacket and holding a white stick - to the height of the chest. The cars pass in the background. — The report states that Scotland’s profit system is more “kind” than the rest of the UK.

Adult Disability Payment (ADP) was introduced in 2022, a foundation stone of the developed Social Security Agency that was being established.

It is a regular payment to help people cover the additional costs of disability or long -term health status, whether they are at work or not.

It is essentially a replacement for personal freedom payment (PIP), and 99% of cases have now been transferred from the Department of Department and Pension (DWP) to Social Security Scotland.

The actual payments assigned are similar to the PIP – a standard weekly award for daily life cost of £ 73.90, or an extended award of £ 110.40.

But reviews organized by Edl Harris – which led several donations and care organizations – stated that the Scottish approach was “much more kind” than the DWP system for assessment.

He said that it was “kind in tone and more dignified in approach”.

And in fact a third -third people are now receiving ADPs, new applicants, who were not in the receipt of PIP or disability allowance (DLA).

It is only ready to grow.

The number of people receiving ADP is estimated to exceed 700,000 by the end of the decade.

This is more than 12% of the Scottish population.

Perhaps this is not in such a large number when the previous census suggested that 24% of Scots had some type of disability or long-term health problem that limited their day-to-day activities.

But it makes a very large financial outlay with it.

The total expenditure on social security benefits in Scotland was £ 5.3bn in 2023-24. It is estimated to hit £ 7.7bn next year, and is £ 9.4bn by 2030–31.

ADP is the largest element of that figure so far – it will be priced at £ 5.4BN by 2030-31.

For reference, it is more than ten times the price of Scottish child’s payment, and the winter fuel pays the Scottish version more than 30 times.

And the increasing cost of these benefits and the difference between the funds available in the block grant from Westminster is also increasing.

By the end of the decade it will be £ 2bn – money will be killed that Scottish ministers will need to deduct from other departments or to find taxes elsewhere in the budget.

Report writer Edl Harris says that the Scottish approach is ‘Kinder’ compared to the DWP system

Report writer Edel Harris - A smiling woman with a short -blonde, wearing a blue blazer and leaving the pearl earrings - standing in front of the shelves of soft toys. — Report writer Edl Harris says that the Scottish approach is ‘Kinder’ compared to the DWP system

Ms. Harris is curious for the new applicants to come forward regardless of the cost.

Their report states that “disability is a proof of the economic value of the effects of good welfare of benefits, and they carry out the financial costs associated with administering them”.

She says that “not only should we continue to encourage people to apply for adult disability payments, but we need to access the application process as possible and reduce anxiety”.

The report makes 50 recommendations about simplifying the system and making it easier for people to navigate.

It also argues that the eligibility for payment should be based on “real -life experience of customers and not only on the list of activities”.

Currently, the eligibility is based on specific things with which help may be required. Examples include preparation, food and drink, washing and bathing, wearing clothes and communicating orally.

Some respondents told the review that “to take time out to expose the issues and what you can’t do is disappointing, derogatory and unfair”, and that “it seems that you are begging for help”.

Ms. Harris recommended this system to go for a large-picture approach based on the results and equal participation in the society.

Sherly-Any Somarville and John Swine are clear that they do not want to cut profit

Getty Image Sherly -Any Somarville - A woman with a red shoulder length in a green dress - and the first minister John Swine - a bald man in a deep suit with a purple tie - a bald man - walking together in the Scottish Parliament room — Sherly-Any Somarville and John Swine are clear that they do not want to cut profit

The Scottish government says it will consider the report and determine its formal response in January 2026.

But in many ways they are already singing with the same bhajan sheet.

While the UK government was trying to ban eligibility for disability payments – only to do a series of climb due to backbenth rebellion – the Scottish ministers were very clear that they would not make any cuts.

Social Justice Secretary Sherly-On Somarville has said that she sees benefits as investment in Scotland people.

In fact, that language is actually written in the law that outlines social security Scotland.

It underlines the very different approaches taken by the Scottish and the UK administration, both face a spiral bill for the benefits of the work at the time of tight budget and weak growth.

The UK government has sought to bring the number of claimants – and thus the cost of welfare – below, against the increase in personal taxes or state borrowings while maintaining the “fiscal rules” of the Chancellor.

They say that the existing system is broken and needs to be durable for future generations, while prioritizing those who need the most help.

Liberal system funded by high taxes

The generosity of Scottish ministers will undoubtedly be popular – especially with those receiving payments – but we should not show off that it was an easy option.

It is funded by high taxes, with the Scottish system now characterized by six separate income tax bands, asking high -earnings to contribute hundreds of or thousands of pounds more per year, if they lived in the south.

The latest plan to balance books involves reducing the public sector workforce 0.5% per year for the next five years.

Social Security Scotland has been excluded for “significant efficiency savings”, while health boards have also been asked to cut 3%.

All this is based on the system because it currently stands up, before considering Ms. Harris review.

Perhaps this is why ministers require another six months to decide how to respond – here is a difficult balance act, to be done here, and it will happen at the same time when the government is making its next budget.