Understanding and interpreting information – including supporting information

This guidance is for case managers working for Social Security Scotland.

In this chapter, the case manager will be referred to as “you”. Social Security Scotland will be referred to as “us”. In this chapter, the term ‘individual’ can refer to both the individual who is the recipient of the benefit and the individual who is acting on behalf of the recipient i.e. their third-party representative or appointee. Where the guidance refers to contacting the individual, this could be their third-party representative or appointee. You should use the information provided on the application or review form to decide who would be the appropriate contact on a case-by-case basis.

Related reading

• Gathering Supporting Information Chapter
  • Confirmation from a professional
  • Additional supporting information
  • Lack of confirmation from a professional and good cause
  • Gathering supporting information
• Principles of decision making
  • Making robust decisions
  • Other decision-making tools

What is meant by ‘information

This guidance should be used to help you understand and interpret any information provided throughout the initial determination and review process. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Any supporting information (potentially called ‘evidence’ by DWP) transferred across from DWP, provided by the individual during a review or gathered by yourself during a review
• The review forms
• Information gathered in follow up phone calls with the individual

For more information on how to how to apply the information to Scottish Adult DLA criteria, you should refer to the decision making guidance on Scottish Adult DLA – Rates and Payment.

Supporting information

Although this chapter should be used to understand and interpret all information you will use to make a decision, it makes frequent reference to supporting information. You should ensure you are familiar with supporting information by referring to the Supporting Information decision making guidance

Supporting information is information from:

• professionals
• the individual’s wider support network

It’s added to the information provided by the individual in their review form. It is used to support an individual’s review. It also helps:

• build a picture of how an individual’s disability or condition impacts their life

Confirmation from a professional can only come from a professional. Where needed, the key role of this type of supporting information is to broadly confirm the individual’s conditions, disabilities or needs.

See chapter on Relevant Considerations when making a determination as part of an award review for details of when you would need to gather supporting information.

Additional supporting information is used to establish an individual’s entitlement and care needs. It can come from the client’s wider support network or a professional. Its purpose is to add detail to the review form by describing the individual’s needs on a day-to-day basis.

Supporting information, including confirmation from a professional, should be used to support an individual’s review. It should not be used to “evidence” or “prove” every detail of what the individual has described.