Child Disability Payment decision making guide
Who a payment can be made to
Where entitlement is in relation to an individual under 16 years old, CDP should be paid to the person specified in the application (Social Security (Scotland Act) 2018, s85A) who will be:
- someone with parental rights and responsibilities, who lives with and has care of the child, provided that they are willing and practicably able to act an appointee
Where an award relates to an individual who is 16 years old or above, payment should be made to either:
- the individual
- an appointee (CDP regs, reg. 22(1))
- someone that the individual has requested receive payment on their behalf
CDP can be paid to someone else at any point (CDP regs, reg. 22(2)) if the individual requests it. This may follow a change of circumstances or the availability of new information. For more information please go to the individuals 16 or Older chapter.
Deciding whether an appointee should receive CDP on behalf of an individual is a legal process. A decision relating to whether an appointment should be made or not can be made by an application for a review of the decision.
For more information on entitlement please go to the Determinations of Applications and Awards chapter.
Amy is aged 15 and has a CDP award which continues beyond her sixteenth birthday. Prior to her becoming 16 years old, Social Security Scotland wrote to Amy’s father who is currently receiving the payments to ask for bank details for Amy. This is so that CDP could be made directly to Amy once she is 16 years old. Amy’s bank details were supplied to Social Security Scotland and payments following her sixteenth birthday will be made directly to Amy.
Lawrie is aged 15 and lives with his mother who receives CDP on his behalf. When Lawrie turns 16, he starts receiving CDP directly into his own bank account. After three months, Lawrie’s condition worsens. Lawrie’s mother contacts Social Security Scotland to request that payments are made to her bank account as Lawrie is not able to manage his money independently. Social Security Scotland seek Lawrie’s view before coming to a decision. There is no indication of incapacity so Social Security Scotland arrange for payment to be made to Lawrie’s mother.
Charlie is aged 12 and lives with their mum and dad in Glasgow. Charlie’s father receives CDP on their behalf. Charlie’s mother and father then break up and, subsequently, Charlie’s father moves to Inverness. Charlie’s mother contacts Social Security Scotland requesting that she receives payments instead. Charlie’s father no longer lives with them and no longer has care of Charlie. Therefore, it is determined that Charlie’s mother should receive the CDP on their behalf.