Adult Disability Payment Review: consultation
Section 3 – Pre-application support for Adult Disability Payment applications
The following questions ask about the pre-application support provided by Social Security Scotland as set out in Section 3 of the Consultation Paper. This includes the Local Delivery service and the Independent Advocacy Service.
What is pre-application support?
Local Delivery Service
The Scottish Government has set up the Local Delivery service in every local authority across Scotland to help support people applying for social security benefits. A Local Delivery appointment allows people to get private and confidential support with an application from a trained client support adviser, or just ask questions about the application process. A client support adviser can answer questions about applying for Scottish Government benefits, assist with filling in and submitting applications and forms, and let people know what type of supporting information they will need to provide.
Supporting information is information that:
- confirms someone’s conditions, disability, or needs
- describes the impact someone’s conditions or disability have on their life.
Supporting information could include documents or letters but can include other types of information.
People can arrange to speak with a client support adviser at a location and time that suits them, for example:
- at a venue in their local community
- in a person’s home
- in a hospital or prison
- via video call
- via telephone appointment.
Independent Advocacy Service
The Scottish Government has set up an Independent Advocacy Service. It has appointed a charity called VoiceAbility to deliver this service and the Scottish Government funds this service.
The agreement between the Scottish Government and VoiceAbility means it must ensure support is available to disabled people to help them engage effectively with Social Security Scotland.
The service provides independent advocates who can help people to:
- make sure they are understood
- say what they think, want or need
- understand and ask questions about benefits
- understand how to apply for benefits
- understand letters, application forms, phone calls and meetings with Social Security Scotland
- make sure they have information they need to help make decisions
- understand what to do if they are not happy.
An advocate will not:
- provide advice about benefits
- offer legal advice
- make decisions for the person
- share their own views or opinion.