Change of circumstances: change in care needs

This chapter is about one of the events that trigger an unscheduled review. The chapter on unscheduled reviews and determinations without application explains what an unscheduled review is. A case manager must make an unscheduled review when they become aware (whether or not notified by the individual or their representative) that there has been a change of circumstance which would either: • potentially result in an alteration to the amount of Pension Age Disability Payment (PADP) that an individual is entitled to • make it likely that an individual is no longer entitled to PADP (PADP regs, reg. 41(a)).

This chapter is specifically about change in the individual’s care needs as a result of their disability. The chapter on Special Rules for Terminal Illness applies if the change is that an individual is diagnosed with a terminal illness.

The ‘tell us about a change’ section of the Unscheduled Reviews chapter explains the duty on individuals to inform Social Security Scotland about changes in their circumstances. The notice of determination notifies individuals and their representatives that they are under a duty to tell Social Security Scotland if:

• the individual’s condition gets better or worse
• the level of help and care they need changes.

This duty also applies to anyone acting on the individual’s behalf, such as an appointee. The operational guidance on third-party representatives gives more guidance on applying the rules, in the majority of cases, where the individual is represented by a third-party representative. Where this chapter mentions “the individual”, this also includes someone acting on the individual’s behalf.