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Re-determinations and DWP mandatory reconsiderations involve different processes. In our system, a re-determination means that Social Security Scotland will make a fresh determination carried out by a different officer, taking any new evidence into account, which replaces the earlier determination.

The Scottish Government is focused on building a fairer, rights based appeals system that responds to the needs and views of people who receive benefits. Short-term Assistance will be available where a continuing entitlement has been reduced or stopped and that decision is subject to a re-determination or appeal. This will ensure that individuals will not have to manage on a reduced income for a period. We are currently consulting on the timescales for re-determinations for disability assistance and will review our position in light of the responses to the consultation.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is responsible for the administration of Severe Disablement Allowance and has shared specific information on this on a confidential basis.

You can access data published by DWP about SDA at https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/department-for-work-pensions/about/statistics .

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-22100 on 20 March 2019. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx.

Guidance on decision making timeframes is being developed for Social Security Scotland case managers. The guidance will set out how decisions will be reached by case managers, using a person-centred approach.

Through advice from clinical experts, significant developmental milestones for children will be defined within guidance being developed for Social Security Scotland case managers. The guidance will set out where exceptions to the Scottish Government policy on award duration apply.

From the point that Disability Assistance for older people is launched there will be no new Attendance Allowance cases. The caseload to be migrated will therefore reduce as clients cease to claim the benefit prior to the cases being transferred.

The Disability Assistance consultation is focussed on the new benefits we will be introducing in Scotland. People over 65 applying for Disability Assistance for the first time will not be able to apply for Disability Living Allowance and as outlined in the consultation paper, will apply for Disability Assistance for Older People. Scottish people over 65 already receiving Disability Living Allowance, will be transferred to the Scottish Government as outlined in the policy position paper published on Case Transfer.

The policy paper can be found here: https://www.gov.scot/publications/social-security-case-transfer-policy-position-paper/pages/1/ .

The Scottish Government will introduce Short-Term Assistance (STA) which will be available to clients who have an award reduced or stopped as a result of an entitlement decision and will ensure they will continue to be paid the full value of their assistance, where they have challenged the decision. If they are a customer of the Accessible Vehicle and Equipment Scheme and they are in receipt of STA, they will continue to be eligible to access the scheme until at least the conclusion of their challenge. This is, however, subject to HMRC and HM Treasury agreement to extend relevant tax exemptions to clients in receipt of STA. The assistance will not be recoverable, regardless of whether or not the challenge of the initial decision was upheld.

As stated in the answer to question S5W-22084, the Scottish Government will undertake modelling to determine the proportion of assessors who will be required to undergo specialist training.

I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-22100 on 20 March 2019. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx ' /.