15 January 2007 - New pilot to help speed up the benefits process across Scotland
A new scheme that will speed up benefit payments to Scotland’s most vulnerable people is to be launched in Scotland from today.
The pilot, the first agreement of its kind in the UK, will allow GPs to send information relating to Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Attendance Allowance (AA) claims electronically, thereby speeding up the whole process and ensuring that people receive their payment as quickly as possible. If it is successful, Ministers will consider extending the process to other benefits across the whole of Scotland.
Welcoming the new cooperation between the UK benefits system and the NHS Scotland Minister for Disabled People, Anne McGuire said:
At present there are around 3,000 new claims for Disability Living Allowance made in Scotland every month of which around 1,700 require further information which inevitably delays the time in which people can get their benefit.
Strengthening the partnership between the Scottish NHS and the UK benefits system in this way should lead to a reduction in the length of time it takes to process applications and consequently disabled people getting their money quicker.
“As DLA and AA are paid to some of the most vulnerable people in Scotland I think it is right that we look to see what methods we can introduce to speed up the processing and payment of these benefits.
“This pilot has been worked up with the full support of both the BMA and the Scottish Executive and I am grateful for their cooperation. We are constantly looking at ways we can ensure people get the money they are entitled to as quickly as possible. If this is successful I would like to see it rolled out across the country.”
344 GPs in 94 practices in Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Lothian and the Forth Valley will take part in the pilot that will run for an initial 3 months, and if successful, continue on for a further three months.
Scottish Executive Deputy Health Minister Lewis Macdonald said:
“We are pleased that Scotland has been chosen for this scheme because of its more advanced and extensive health IT systems.
“This new scheme should benefit claimants, GPs, and all patients visiting their family doctors.
“Not only will claimants get their claims processed faster, but Scottish GPs will benefit from a reduction of paperwork, which should free up more time to spend with the rest of their patients.”
Dr Dean Marshall, Chairman of the BMA’s Scottish GP committee said:
“BMA Scotland is delighted that this pilot is taking place in Scotland and we hope that this will be of benefit to both patients and GPs.”
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