Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002
FOI Reference: FOI/202300364114
Date received: 27 June 2023
Date responded: 24 July 2023
Request
When the Adult Disability Payment was first introduced, it was stated on the Scottish Government website that “Social Security Scotland aim to make a decision in 8 to 10 weeks, after getting your completed application and all the information they need to make a decision.”
Now it appears that the 8-10 week target is no longer cited anywhere or used.
Based on this information, please provide the following information:
Request for Information 1:
The reason why the 8-10 week target did exist but no longer does. In other words, why Social Security Scotland decided to remove that target.
Request for Information 2:
The date (day, month and year) on which that decision to remove 8-10 week target was made and by whom.
Request for Information 3:
Please provide the minutes of the meeting (that was presumably had) to make the decision to remove the 8-10 week target for Adult Disability Payment.
Response to your request
Request for Information 1:
During the phased rollout of Adult Disability Payment to a number of local authority areas, between 21 March 2022 and 28 July 2022, we published information for people who had applied for Adult Disability Payment advising that “we aim to make a decision within 8 to 10 weeks, after getting [the] completed application [and] all the information we need to make a decision” explaining that, “as Adult Disability Payment is a new service, some processes may take longer. They can also take longer because of high levels of demand”.
Communication with our clients was one of many elements that was continually assessed during the phased rollout period. Ahead of the national launch of Adult Disability Payment in August 2022 the 8-10 week timescale was removed from the website.
Request for Information 2:
The 8-10 week timescale was removed on 28 July 2022. Pre and post new benefit launches, Social Security Scotland and Scottish Government colleagues work together as a multi-disciplinary team. This decision was made by the multi-disciplinary team ahead of the national go-live for Adult Disability Payment.
Request for Information 3:
While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance Social Security Scotland does not have the information you have requested. The decision to remove the 8-10 week timescale was made as part of ongoing pre-launch activity. It is not common practice to record minutes of these discussions.
About FOI
Social Security Scotland is committed to publishing responses to requests. The Scottish Government also publishes responses to requests. You can view the responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.