Child Disability Payment decision making guide
Making payments to individuals aged 16 and over
Once a child reaches the age of 16, they are considered a young person. Young people are generally expected to manage their own entitlement to CDP.
Where an individual who is entitled to CDP is 16 years or older, payment can be made to:
- the individual
- another person to be used for the benefit of the individual (called ‘an appointee’) (CDP regs, reg. 22(1), Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018, s. 85B)
- another person to be used for the benefit of the individual where the Scottish Ministers consider it appropriate. This could be based on the client’s request, however, it does not need to be. (CDP regs, reg. 22(1)
Amy is 15 years and 8 months old and is entitled to CDP. Amy’s father is currently receiving the payments to his bank account. Social Security Scotland wrote to Amy’s father to ask for bank details for Amy. This is so that CDP payments can be made directly to Amy once she turns 16 years old. Social Security Scotland received Amy’s bank details and payments will be made directly to her once she turns 16.
Sean is 15 years and 8 months old and is entitled to CDP. Sean’s mother is currently receiving the payments to her bank account. Social Security Scotland wrote to Sean’s mother to ask for bank details for Sean. This is so that CDP payments can be made directly to Sean when he turns 16 years old. Sean is not yet able to manage his money himself because of the severity of his disability. Sean’s mother replied to Social Security Scotland to request that payments continue to be made to her bank account. Social Security Scotland makes enquiries about Sean’s circumstances, including taking into account Sean’s own views and decides to appoint Sean’s mother to act on his behalf. Sean’s payments would therefore continue to be made to Sean’s mother as his appointee
If it is no longer appropriate for a particular person to receive payment, this can be stopped and the payment made instead to another person (CDP regs, reg. 22(2)).
Kate is aged 15 and lives with her mother who receives CDP on her behalf. When Kate turns 16, she starts receiving CDP directly into her own bank account. After three months, Kate calls us and asks that future payments are made to her mother’s bank account again. There is no indication of incapacity so Social Security Scotland arrange for payment to be made to Kate’s mother’s bank account.
When the individual reaches the age of 15 years and 8 months, Social Security Scotland will write to their parent, guardian or appointee. This letter will ask whether the individual can manage their own entitlement to CDP when they become 16. If the individual can manage their own entitlement, the parent, guardian or appointee will also be asked for the individual’s payment details.
If the individual cannot manage their own entitlement after they become 16, Social Security Scotland must consider whether an appointee is required to receive CDP on behalf of the individual.
The process for deciding whether to appoint a person to act on behalf of a young person depends on whether or not the individual is legally deemed to lack capacity to manage their own affairs.
If it is no longer appropriate for a particular person to receive payment, this can be stopped and the payment made instead to another person (CDP regs, reg. 22(2)