University of Strathclyde

Project Summary

This project will discover what adults with disabilities consider to be an acceptable application process as regards social security benefits, helping to improve the effectiveness and fairness of disability benefits systems.

Context

In 2022, Scotland launched a new social security benefit for adults with disabilities: Adult Disability Payment (‘ADP'). The new ADP scheme aims to innovate on prior systems within the UK as regards the experience of making an application, seeking to make it less distressing and more effective for claimants. The Scottish Government’s stated ambition in changing its application process is to promote dignity, respect and fairness for claimants.

Project Overview

Key research activities include: interviews with ADP claimants, benefits advisors and policy makers; a UK-wide survey of people who have applied for disability benefits to explore what procedural qualities disabled people associate with an acceptable application process; and a survey of claimants with learning disabilities in Scotland.