On the 22nd November 2021, Child Disability Payment (CDP) launched nationally across Scotland. Child Disability Payment is a new benefit provided by Social Security Scotland. It is designed to provide extra money to help with the costs of caring for a child with a disability or health condition. It replaces Disability Living Allowance for children in Scotland; a benefit provided by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
Who can apply?
To make the application, you must usually be the child’s parent or guardian, though in some cases another adult can be made appointee.
The benefit is not means tested so it is not affected by family income.
To apply, your child must:
- normally live in Scotland
- Be under 16 (though if they are already receive CDP, the child can continue to receive it until they are 18).
- Have a disability or health condition that affects their daily life or mobility. (There does not need to be a diagnosis).
How does the benefit work ?
There are 2 parts to the benefit:
- The Care Component (children are eligible from 3 months+, or from birth if terminally ill)
- The Mobility Component (for children 3 years +)
Your child can receive one or both of these components at the same time. The Care component is given if your child needs extra care as result of their disability or health condition. The Mobility component is given if you child has difficulties with moving around outside the house, due to a disability or health condition. This does not have to be due to a physical disability.
For more information on the different rates, see the Social Security Scotland website.
How much are the payments ?
Child Disability Payment is usually paid every 4 weeks. Rates of the benefit will be in line with rates of Disability Living Allowance in the rest of the UK. For 2021/22, the rates of Child Disability Payment can be found here.
How do I apply ?
To apply for Child Disability Payment, you’ll need to fill in a form either online or on paper.
Apply online here.
To get a paper form, call Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222 (8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday). Social Security Scotland will then post you a form.
There are 2 parts to the form. These must be completed within 6 weeks of each other. After you have submitted the form, you may be contacted to provide more information.
Social Security Scotland will send you a letter with the application outcome with 42 working days of receiving your application. The decision letter is called a notice of determination.
What support is there to help me apply ?
There are lots of organisations that can provide information or advice to apply. These include:
- Social Security Scotland advisors can help you through their Local Delivery service. An advisor local to you can meet you in person, over the phone or by video call. They can even meet in your home if that’s your preference. Contact Social Security Scotland to book an appointment.
- Citizen’s Advice Scotland– click the link to find your local service or call the national helpline on 0800 028 1456.
- Disability Information Scotland– call us on 0300 323 9961, or email info@disabilityscot.org.uk
What if my child already receives Disability Living Allowance ?
If your child already receives Disability Living Allowance, you do not need to re-apply for Child Disability Payment. Your child will be automatically transferred to the new benefit. The transfer process began in Autumn 2021 and will be done in phases. Do not worry if your child’s claim hasn’t been transferred yet as it will take a while to get to every claimant.
For each claimant, the transfer process will take about 3 months and at the end of the process, your child will receive Child Disability Payment instead of Disability Living Allowance. There should be no break in payments during this time. Social Security Scotland will contact you by letter both at the beginning and the end of the transfer process.
