That the Parliament notes that 8 April 2023 marks the 10th anniversary of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP), which replaced the Disability Living Allowance (DLA); understands that one factor motivating the introduction of PIP was to reduce the amount of money spent on disability benefits; believes that PIP aimed to reduce costs by introducing new eligibility criteria for accessing its enhanced rate of support, which were not included in DLA, such as the so-called 20-metre rule; considers that the so-called 20-metre rule is an arbitrary, undignified and ineffective way of measuring mobility; understands that this rule has led to many people who were in receipt of the enhanced DLA rate of mobility support, including those in the Glasgow region, having their award level downgraded to the PIP standard rate; welcomes the Scottish Government’s decision to replace PIP with the Adult Disability Payment (ADP); regrets that ADP retains the same eligibility criteria as PIP, including the so-called 20-metre rule; considers this rule to be incompatible with the stated values of Social Security Scotland of dignity, fairness and respect; understands that the Scottish Government is now consulting on whether to change the eligibility criteria for ADP; notes that the Social Security Scotland Charter describes social security as “an investment in the people of Scotland”, and further notes the view that the review of ADP is an opportunity to live up to this and provide disabled people with the support that they need.
Supported by:
Monica Lennon, Liam McArthur, Willie Rennie, Colin Smyth, Paul Sweeney, Mercedes Villalba, Beatrice Wishart