Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002
FOI Reference: FOI/202500473026
Date received: 26 June 2025
Date responded: 22 July 2025
Information requested
Request for information 1: How many planned award reviews have been carried out for disability benefits in the past three years.
Request for information 2: How many of the planned award reviews were in person and how many were not.
Response
Request for information 1:
Some of the information you have requested can be found in Social Security Scotland’s published statistics: Adult Disability Payment statistics to 30 April 2025. Information on the number of reviews can be found in table 27.
Under section 25(1) of FOISA, we do not have to give you information which is already reasonably accessible to you. If, however, you do not have internet access to obtain this information from the website listed, then please contact me again and I will send you a paper copy.
Pension Age Disability Payment launched on 22 April 2025, and currently there have been no completed planned award reviews for this benefit.
Request for information 2:
Social Security Scotland’s processes related to decision making do not include making decisions in person. However, Social Security Scotland can have client contact during the decision making process for Adult Disability Payment. This is in the format of a client consultation.
The table below details the number of client consultations for Adult Disability Payment planned award reviews for 2024-25, and whether these were carried out in person, virtually or via telephone.
|
Total consultations |
In-Person |
Virtual |
Telephone Call |
|
256 |
3 |
7 |
246 |
While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance Social Security Scotland does not have some of the information you have requested. We do not hold the number of client consultations specifically in relation to planned award reviews for 2023-2024 and 2022-2023, as there is no need for us to retain that information.
This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that Social Security Scotland does not have the information you have requested.
Client consultations form our evidence based decision making process which occurs within our office space using tools such as our Decision Making Guide (linked below) and information from our Health Practitioners.
Social Security Scotland - Decision Making Guide
Client consultations are not part of the decision making process for Child Disability Payment.
About FOI
Social Security Scotland is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. The Scottish Government also publishes responses to requests. You can view the responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.