Child Disability Payment decision making guide

Duty to re-determine

Social Security Scotland must make a re-determination within 56 calendar days of either:

  • Where the request for the re-determination is received within the time allowed for making the re-determination request (42 days), the day the request is received (CDP regs, reg. 37(2)(a)).

Or

  • Where the request for the redetermination was made late, the day when Social Security Scotland, or if applicable the First-tier Tribunal, decides that they will accept the request (CDP regs, reg. 37(2)(b)). It is only at this point that the request is considered valid.

There is no provision in the regulations or the 2018 Act that allows for an individual to withdraw a request for a re-determination.

If the request for re-determination is late, the 56 calendar days begin on the day when Social Security Scotland, or if applicable the First-tier Tribunal, decides that there are good reasons that the individual has not requested a redetermination sooner, they will accept the request (CDP regs, reg. 37(2)(b)). It is only at this point that the request is considered valid.

If Social Security Scotland decide that the request for a re-determination is not made in such form as required, but the First-tier Tribunal later decide that the request for re-determination should be accepted, the 56 calendar days for re-determination begins on the day the First-tier Tribunal makes that decision (CDP amendment regs, reg 18).

If Social Security Scotland does not make the re-determination within 56 calendar days they must inform the individual that (Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 s. 45(1)):

  • the re-determination has not been completed within the timescales allowed by regulations
  • they have the immediate right of appeal to the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland against the determination made under section 37 of the Act which resulted in the request for a re-determination
  • provide the individual with an appeal form

Section 43(3) of the Act allows Social Security Scotland to continue to process and finalise the re-determination if it has not been completed within 56 calendar days. Social Security Scotland may ask the individual if they would prefer to wait for the re-determination to be completed, at which point a full notification setting out the determination, the reasons for it and the individual’s right to appeal that determination to the First-tier Tribunal would be sent to the individual, rather than proceed to a tribunal appeal. Social Security Scotland will advise the individual at this point of their right to proceed to appeal.

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