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)

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)

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