Questions are being raised at Holyrood over reports that the proportion of Adult Disability Payment applications being approved has fallen significantly in recent years.
Scottish Green MSP Kayleigh Kinross-O’Neill is calling for greater scrutiny of the issue amid reports that approval rates have dropped from 57 per cent to 34 per cent.
Adult Disability Payment is designed to help disabled people, those living with long term health conditions and terminally ill people meet the additional costs they often face in daily life.
The reported decline in approval rates has prompted concerns that some eligible applicants may be missing out on support they are entitled to receive.
Ms Kinross-O’Neill has submitted a written question to the Scottish Government seeking information on what action is being taken to help eligible people access support and to understand the reasons behind the reported fall.
The issue is expected to be raised in the Scottish Parliament today.
Campaigners and advice organisations have long highlighted the challenges some applicants face when navigating disability benefit systems, including gathering evidence and understanding eligibility requirements.
The Scottish Greens argue that a significant reduction in approval rates warrants further examination to ensure people are not being discouraged from applying or forced into lengthy appeals processes.
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.”
The MSP also drew on her own experiences when discussing the importance of ensuring support systems remain accessible.
Kayleigh Kinross-O’Neill said:
“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.”
The Scottish Government has yet to respond to the concerns raised, but the issue is likely to attract further attention as MSPs examine how effectively support is reaching those who need it most.
