Question reference: S5W-34701
- Asked by: Johann Lamont, MSP for Glasgow, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 21 January 2021
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Current status: Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 28 January 2021
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether people receiving the highest component of personal independence payment (PIP) following a transfer from disability living allowance (DLA) because of DWP guidelines will continue to receive child winter heating payment assistance.
Answer
Children and young people in Scotland who are entitled to the highest rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for at least one day during the qualifying week (which is the third week in September) are entitled to Child Winter Heating Assistance (CWHA). Young people who are entitled to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) are not entitled to CWHA.
This is because CWHA is intended to provide assistance to children and young people with the most severe disabilities who have additional needs throughout the night. The eligibility criteria for PIP do not take into account the needs of individuals at night. Determining whether a PIP client meets the eligibility criteria would involve looking at cases individually which would have impacted on delivery of CWHA.
The Scottish Government has introduced changes to the eligibility criteria for DLA so that young people whose sixteenth birthday falls on or after 1 st September 2020 will not be required to apply for PIP at age 16. Their award will automatically be extended to age 18. This will allow young people who meet the eligibility criteria to continue to be entitled to CWHA.