Adult Disability Payment Scotland

allison445

I applied for ADP in February this year and have just received my notice of determination letter I was awarded standard rate daily living and 4 points for mobility I received no points for planning a journey even though I do not leave the house alone for fear of what might happen they based this on the fact I have no mental health referrals.

I suffer from a sensory condition which causes a sensitivity to lights sounds and movements crowded places and fire and police sirens are terrifying for me.
I am unsure if I should ask for a redetermination as I could lose the award entirely I have contacted citizens advice but there are no appointments till mid January

My supporting information was limited as I have not seen a GP for a good few years but I did not know I could provide supporting letters from friends and family so may use this as an option if I do decide to go for redetermination.

Does anyone have any advice to offer on how I should approach this or should I just accept the award I have received as I have no proof of mental health issues and my GP provided no information when contacted be Social Security Scotland hence the long wait for a decision as they tried to obtain the information twice once from the wrong GP surgery,

HillStreetBlues

With any disability benefit, the more evidence a person has  the more chance of the award being correct first time. This doesn't mean that just because a person doesn't have the evidence they won't get what they are entitled too.
I don't think I've seen a person appealing an ADP decision on here, but others might have, so base my reply on PIP.
If you do go for a redetermination then get as much evidence from friends & family supporting your claim. Be clear on how many points you think you should score and why you score them.
If it's like PIP few are changed at this stage (and very very few are downgraded) if still unhappy after that it would be a Tribunal

Do you know how long the award is for?

allison445

The letter states the award starts on 21st February 2023 and my needs will be reviewed on 5th December 2025 

I received a back payment would I have to repay this if I ended up with no award.

HillStreetBlues

allison445 said:

The letter states the award starts on 21st February 2023 and my needs will be reviewed on 5th December 2025 

I received a back payment would I have to repay this if I ended up with no award.

I've never heard of a MR (PIP)  being downgrade, but I'm loathed to say it can't happen just because I've not seen it. The stats I've read only state if it's been changed or not, so it's possible a downgrade would be classed as a change in those stats. Others might know if it does happen or not.
As even googling couldn't find that it's happened, so if it does I expect it would have to be a very very clear error on the first decision, rather than just a disagreement. o

poppy12345

allison445 said:

I received a back payment would I have to repay this if I ended up with no award.

No, you wouldn't have to repay anything back if in the unlikely event the MR would remove your award.

Slonvinton

allison445 said:

I applied for ADP in February this year and have just received my notice of determination letter I was awarded standard rate daily living and 4 points for mobility I received no points for planning a journey even though I do not leave the house alone for fear of what might happen they based this on the fact I have no mental health referrals.

I suffer from a sensory condition which causes a sensitivity to lights sounds and movements crowded places and fire and police sirens are terrifying for me.
I am unsure if I should ask for a redetermination as I could lose the award entirely I have contacted citizens advice but there are no appointments till mid January

My supporting information was limited as I have not seen a GP for a good few years but I did not know I could provide supporting letters from friends and family so may use this as an option if I do decide to go for redetermination.

Does anyone have any advice to offer on how I should approach this or should I just accept the award I have received as I have no proof of mental health issues and my GP provided no information when contacted be Social Security Scotland hence the long wait for a decision as they tried to obtain the information twice once from the wrong GP surgery,

They said the same to me about not having a diagnosis from a mental health professional for agoraphobia (but the wording of it made it sounds more an implication than straight out reason- so I was dubious about it as a reason). My GP had written that I was housebound with agoraphobia. I had said Ive been housebound since 2017.

I didnt appeal mental health wasnt up to it... I cant seem to find out from anyone if this is really a legitimate reason for refusal. Coming up to the review date and I still havent been seen by mental health professional as I have no support to be with me when one visits and I cant do it on my own.

Spoonie_Turtle

Slonvinton said:

allison445 said:

I applied for ADP in February this year and have just received my notice of determination letter I was awarded standard rate daily living and 4 points for mobility I received no points for planning a journey even though I do not leave the house alone for fear of what might happen they based this on the fact I have no mental health referrals.

I suffer from a sensory condition which causes a sensitivity to lights sounds and movements crowded places and fire and police sirens are terrifying for me.
I am unsure if I should ask for a redetermination as I could lose the award entirely I have contacted citizens advice but there are no appointments till mid January

My supporting information was limited as I have not seen a GP for a good few years but I did not know I could provide supporting letters from friends and family so may use this as an option if I do decide to go for redetermination.

Does anyone have any advice to offer on how I should approach this or should I just accept the award I have received as I have no proof of mental health issues and my GP provided no information when contacted be Social Security Scotland hence the long wait for a decision as they tried to obtain the information twice once from the wrong GP surgery,

They said the same to me about not having a diagnosis from a mental health professional for agoraphobia (but the wording of it made it sounds more an implication than straight out reason- so I was dubious about it as a reason). My GP had written that I was housebound with agoraphobia. I had said Ive been housebound since 2017.

I didnt appeal mental health wasnt up to it... I cant seem to find out from anyone if this is really a legitimate reason for refusal. Coming up to the review date and I still havent been seen by mental health professional as I have no support to be with me when one visits and I cant do it on my own.

It's a reasoning they like to use, but you can refute it if there's good reason you don't have any specialist input.  You do have a reason and it would do you well to explain it on your form.  Plus the written confirmation from your GP, make sure you include a copy of that.

None of this means they won't use that same reasoning this time round, but you'll be giving yourself a good basis for challenging it if they do.

(There is something in case law or guidance about lack of specialist input not automatically meaning lack of severity, but I can't find it at the moment.)