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Short-term Assistance

Value of Short-term Assistance

Last updated
17 Jan 2025

The value of Short-term Assistance is calculated using your longstanding disability benefit award. This is the award level you were receiving prior to a recent scheduled review or a change of circumstances. If you are claiming a disability benefit for the first time, your longstanding award is the first award you receive, prior to your re-determination.

If your longstanding benefit award is reduced or stopped and you choose to challenge this determination, you can access Short-term Assistance that tops up your current award level, which may be zero, to the longstanding award level. Short-term Assistance is designed to protect people from a sudden drop in household income while they challenge this decision.
 

Examples of how Short-term Assistance works

Example 1:

You are first awarded Adult Disability Payment at a rate of standard mobility and standard daily living. You decide to challenge this decision as you believe you are entitled to a higher rate of mobility and request a re-determination.

Social Security Scotland makes a re-determination which results in your award of Adult Disability Payment being lowered to nil mobility and standard daily living.

You decide to appeal this decision at the First-tier Tribunal and are eligible to apply for Short-term Assistance as your longstanding award has been reduced (your longstanding award here is the first award you received, prior to your re-determination).

If you apply for Short-term Assistance, you would receive an award equivalent to standard mobility and standard daily living during the appeal.

Example 2:

Your child receives a first award of Child Disability Payment of nil mobility and the highest care component. During a scheduled review, their award changes to nil mobility and lowest care component. You decide to request a re-determination to challenge this decision.

You are eligible to apply for Short-term Assistance as your longstanding award (the award prior to review) has been reduced. If you apply for Short-term Assistance, you would receive an award equivalent to highest care component, nil mobility during the re-determination.

To challenge a benefit determination, there is a two stage process:

  • Stage 1 – re-determination
  • Stage 2 – appeal

Get more information on how to request a re-determination and how to make an appeal.

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