This guidance applies to Child Disability Payment (CDP). A child is someone who is under 16 years old.

CDP is the child's benefit but ordinarily an adult must act on the child's behalf until the child reaches age 16. Acting on the child's behalf includes:

• applying for CDP
• receiving CDP on the child's behalf
• requesting a re-determination or appeal about a CDP determination
• notifying Social Security Scotland of any changes in the child's circumstances.

Some adults will have legal authority to act on behalf of a child. Sometimes this is referred to as “legal rights".

Other adults may not have legal authority to act on behalf of a child, but may wish to act on the child's behalf.

This guidance explains:

• how to establish who should act on the child's behalf in connection with CDP
• what should happen if there is a dispute about who should act on the child's behalf.