North-East MSPs Welcome Support for Benefit Appeals

North-East MSPs have welcomed a payment introduced to protect people challenging disability benefit payments.

The announcement has been welcomed by Aberdeenshire East Gillian Martin MSP and Banffshire and Buchan Coast MSP Stewart Stevenson.

The Short Term Assistance payment will allow people to continue to receive the amount of money they were getting before the decision was made to lower or stop their payment.

People will not have to repay the Short Term Assistance if the re-determination or appeal upholds the decision to lower or stop their social security payment.

Commenting, Gillian Martin MSP said: 

“This is a first for benefit delivery in the UK and I am pleased the Scottish Government is providing an extension to support people looking to appeal a decision.

“This will be introduced alongside the Child Disability Payment, replacing the Scottish Government’s Disability Living Allowance for Children.

“I hope this allows people who may want to challenge a decision to do so without additional stress or worry in what can be a daunting process.

“It is important we give people the chance to appeal without feeling further penalised.”

Commenting, Stewart Stevenson MSP said: 

 

“We know people’s lives are complicated and there are many factors taken into consideration before making a decision.

“The Scottish Government is working hard to make sure decisions are made correctly the first-time but where this does not happen, this allows an applicant to go back and ask Social Security Scotland to look again.”