2022 No. 332
Constitutional Law
Devolution, Scotland
Social Security

The Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 (Disability Assistance and Information-Sharing) (Consequential Provision and Modifications) Order 2022

Made
Coming into force
The Secretary of State makes the following Order in exercise of the powers conferred by sections 104, 112(1) and 113(2), (3) and (5) of the Scotland Act 19981.

In accordance with paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of Schedule 7 to that Act a draft of this Order has been laid before and approved by a resolution of each House of Parliament.

PART 1Introductory

Citation, commencement and extent1.

(1)

This Order may be cited as the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 (Disability Assistance and Information-Sharing) (Consequential Provision and Modifications) Order 2022.

(2)

This Order comes into force on 21st March 2022.

(3)

Each amendment made in Part 2 of this Order has the same extent as the provision being amended.

(4)

Part 3 extends to England and Wales only.

(5)

Parts 4 and 6 extend to England and Wales and to Scotland only.

(6)

Part 5 extends to Northern Ireland only.

PART 2Disability assistance: England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

Disability assistance: amendments relating to taxation excluding taxation as regards motor vehicles

Amendment of the Individual Savings Account Regulations 19982.

(1)

The Individual Savings Account Regulations 19982 are amended as follows.

(2)

In regulation 4ZE (permitted withdrawals from a junior ISA account where the named child is terminally ill)3—

(a)

in paragraph (2)(b), in Case 1, in paragraph (iii), after “people” insert “, or regulations for disability assistance for working age people,”,

(b)

in paragraph (6), in sub-paragraph (c), after “people” insert “, or regulations for disability assistance for working age people,”.

Amendment of the Child Trust Funds Regulations 20043.

(1)

The Child Trust Funds Regulations 20044 are amended as follows.

(2)

In regulation 18A (permitted withdrawals from an account where the child is terminally ill)5—

(a)

in paragraph (2)(b), in Case 1, in paragraph (iii), after “people” insert “, or regulations for disability assistance for working age people,”,

(b)

in paragraph (6), in sub-paragraph (c), after “regulations” insert “for disability assistance for children and young people, or regulations for disability assistance for working age people,”.

Amendment of the Finance Act 20054.

(1)

The Finance Act 20056 is amended as follows.

(2)

In Schedule 1A (meaning of “disabled person”)7—

(a)

in paragraph 1, after sub-paragraph (d), insert—

“(da)

a person in receipt of disability assistance for working age people by virtue of entitlement to—

(i)

the daily living component at the standard or enhanced rate in accordance with regulations made under section 31 of the SS(S)A 2018, or

(ii)

the mobility component in accordance with regulations made under section 31 of the SS(S)A 2018,”,

(b)

after paragraph 4, insert—

“Disability assistance for working age people

4A.

A person (“A”) is to be treated as a disabled person under paragraph 1(da) if A satisfies HMRC that A would be entitled to receive disability assistance for working age people but for provision made by regulations under section 31 of the SS(S)A 2018 for—

(a)

the cessation of entitlement to disability assistance during periods when a person does not meet the conditions as to residence and presence prescribed by regulations made under that section, or

(b)

the reduction of the value of a payment of disability assistance to £0 when a person is—

(i)

resident in a care home,

(ii)

undergoing detention in legal custody, or

(iii)

in a hospital or similar institution.”,

(c)

in paragraph 8, after the definition of “disability assistance for children and young people”, insert—

““disability assistance for working age people” means a category of disability assistance specifically for working age people,”.

Disability assistance: amendments relating to taxation as regards motor vehicles

Amendment of the Finance Act 19945.

(1)

The Finance Act 19948 is amended as follows.

(2)

In Schedule 7A (insurance premium tax: contracts that are not taxable)9, in paragraph 3 (contracts relating to motor vehicles for use by handicapped persons)—

(a)

in sub-paragraph (2)(a), after “people” insert “, or disability assistance for working age people,”,

(b)

in sub-paragraph (3), in the full-out—

(i)

for “supplement or” substitute “supplement,”,

(ii)

after “people” insert “or of disability assistance for working age people”,

(c)

at the end of sub-paragraph (4)(d), for the full stop substitute a semi-colon,

(d)

after sub-paragraph (4)(d), insert—

“(e)

“disability assistance for working age people” means a category of disability assistance specifically for working age people given in accordance with regulations made under section 31 of the Social Security (Scotland) Act 201810.”.

Amendment of the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 19946.

(1)

The Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 199411 is amended as follows.

(2)

In section 62 (other definitions), in subsection (1) at the appropriate place, insert—

““disability assistance for children and young people” means a category of disability assistance specifically for children and young people given in accordance with regulations made under section 31 of the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018,

“disability assistance for working age people” means a category of disability assistance specifically for working age people given in accordance with regulations made under section 31 of the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018,”.

(3)

In Schedule 1 (annual rates of duty), in paragraph 1ZA12—

(a)

after sub-paragraph (2), insert—

“(2A)

This paragraph also applies to a vehicle when it is being used, or kept for use, by or for the purposes of a disabled person who is in receipt of disability assistance for working age people by virtue of entitlement to the mobility component at the standard rate, in accordance with regulations made under section 31 of the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018, if—

(a)

the vehicle is registered under this Act in the name of the disabled person, and

(b)

no other vehicle registered in the disabled person’s name under this Act is—

(i)

a vehicle for which a vehicle licence taken out at a rate of duty reduced in accordance with sub-paragraph (1) is in force, or

(ii)

an exempt vehicle under paragraph 19 of Schedule 2 or paragraph 7 of Schedule 4.”,

(b)

after sub-paragraph (3), insert—

“(3A)

This paragraph has effect as if a person were in receipt of disability assistance for working age people by virtue of entitlement to the mobility component at the standard rate in any case where the person would be in receipt of that payment by virtue of that entitlement but for the reduction of the value of a payment of disability assistance to £0 when a person is in a hospital or similar institution.”,

(c)

after sub-paragraph (5), insert—

“(6)

For the purposes of sub-paragraph (2A), a vehicle is to be treated as registered under this Act in the name of a person in receipt of disability assistance for working age people by virtue of entitlement to the mobility component at the standard rate if it is so registered in the name of—

(a)

a person appointed under section 58 or 85B13 of the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 in relation to the person,

(b)

a person nominated for the purposes of this paragraph by the person or the person so appointed, or

(c)

any other person who has legal authority to act on behalf of the person.”.

(4)

In Schedule 2 (exempt vehicles), in paragraph 19 (vehicles for disabled people)14—

(a)

after sub-paragraph (2)(aaa) insert—

“(aab)

that person, in accordance with regulations made under section 31 of the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018, is in receipt of disability assistance for working age people by virtue of entitlement to the mobility component at the enhanced rate,”,

(b)

after sub-paragraph (2B) insert—

“(2C)

This paragraph has effect as if a person were in receipt of disability assistance for working age people by virtue of entitlement to the mobility component at the enhanced rate in any case where the person would be in receipt of that payment by virtue of that entitlement but for the reduction of the value of a payment of disability assistance to £0 when a person is in a hospital or similar institution.”,

(c)

in sub-paragraph (4A), after “paragraph (aaa)” insert “or (aab)”.

Amendment of the Value Added Tax Act 19947.

(1)

The Value Added Tax Act 199415 is amended as follows.

(2)

In Schedule 8 (zero-rating), in Group 12 (drugs, medicines, aids for the disabled, etc.)16—

(a)

in item 14—

(i)

for “supplement or” substitute “supplement,”,

(ii)

after “component” in the third place it occurs insert “or of disability assistance for working age people by virtue of entitlement to the mobility component”,

(b)

in Note (6)(b)—

(i)

for “supplement or” substitute “supplement,”,

(ii)

after “people” insert “or the mobility component of disability assistance for working age people”,

(c)

in Note (7), after paragraph (aaa), insert—

“(aab)

“disability assistance for working age people” means a category of disability assistance specifically for working age people given in accordance with regulations made under section 31 of the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018;”.

Disability assistance: amendments relating to driving licenses

Amendment of the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 19998.

(1)

The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 199917 are amended as follows.

(2)

In regulation 9 (minimum ages for holding or obtaining licences)18—

(a)

at the end of paragraph (4)(b), for the full stop substitute “; or”,

(b)

after paragraph (4)(b), insert—

“(c)

who is in receipt of disability assistance for working age people which includes the mobility component at the enhanced rate in accordance with regulations made under section 31 of the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018.”.

Disability assistance: miscellaneous amendments

Amendment of the Recall of MPs Act 2015 (Recall Petition) Regulations 20169.

(1)

The Recall of MPs Act 2015 (Recall Petition) Regulations 201619 are amended as follows.

(2)

In regulation 64(5)(b) (additional requirements for applications for a proxy signature for a definite or an indefinite period on grounds of blindness or other disability: England and Wales and Scotland)20—

(a)

at the end of paragraph (iii), omit “or”,

(b)

at the end of paragraph (iv) insert—

“or

(v)

the enhanced rate of the mobility component of disability assistance for working age people (payable in accordance with regulations made under section 31 of the 2018 Act),”.

(3)

In regulation 65(4)(b) (additional requirements for applications for a proxy signature for an indefinite period on grounds of blindness or other disability: Northern Ireland)21—

(a)

at the end of paragraph (iii), omit “or”,

(b)

at the end of paragraph (iv) insert—

“or

(v)

the enhanced rate of the mobility component of disability assistance for working age people (payable in accordance with regulations made under section 31 of the 2018 Act),”.

Amendment of the Representation of the People (Scotland) Regulations 200110.

(1)

The Representation of the People (Scotland) Regulations 200122 are amended as follows.

(2)

In regulation 53(5)(b) (additional requirements for applications for a proxy vote for a particular or indefinite period on grounds of blindness or any other disability)23, after “young people” insert “or the enhanced rate of the mobility component of disability assistance for working age people”.

Amendment of the Representation of the People (England and Wales) Regulations 200111.

(1)

The Representation of the People (England and Wales) Regulations 200124 are amended as follows.

(2)

In regulation 53(5)(b) (additional requirements for applications for a proxy vote for a definite or indefinite period on grounds of severe sight-impairment or any other disability)25, after “young people” insert “or the enhanced rate of the mobility component of disability assistance for working age people”.

Amendment of the Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) Regulations 200812.

(1)

The Representation of the People (Northern Ireland) Regulations 200826 are amended as follows.

(2)

In regulation 57(4)(b) (additional requirements for applications on grounds of blindness or other disability)27—

(a)

at the end of paragraph (iv), omit “or”,

(b)

at the end of paragraph (v), insert—

“or

(vi)

the enhanced rate of the mobility component of disability assistance for working age people (payable in accordance with regulations made under section 31 of the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018),”.

PART 3Disability assistance: England and Wales

Amendment of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 199213.

(1)

The Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 199228 is amended as follows.

(2)

In section 70(2) (carer’s allowance) for “a child disability payment by virtue of entitlement to the care component at the highest or middle rate by virtue of regulations made under section 31 of the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 (asp 9)” substitute “adult disability payment by virtue of entitlement to the daily living component at the standard or enhanced rate or child disability payment by virtue of entitlement to the care component at the middle or highest rate”.

PART 4Disability assistance: England and Wales, and Scotland

Amendment of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 199214.

(1)

The Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 is amended as follows.

(2)

In section 150 (interpretation of Part 10)29—

(a)

after subsection (1)(bc), insert—

“(bd)

adult disability payment,”,

(b)

in subsection (2), at the appropriate place insert—
““adult disability payment” means disability assistance given in accordance with the Disability Assistance for Working Age People (Scotland) Regulations 202230,”.

Amendment of the State Pension Regulations 201515.

(1)

The State Pension Regulations 201531 are amended as follows.

(2)

In regulation 37 (credits for persons engaged in caring)32—

(a)

at the end of paragraph (4)(h), for the full stop substitute a semi-colon,

(b)

after paragraph (4)(h), insert—

“(i)

the daily living component of adult disability payment at the standard or enhanced rate payable in accordance with regulation 5 of the Disability Assistance for Working Age People (Scotland) Regulations 2022.”.

PART 5Disability assistance: Northern Ireland

Amendment of the Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 199216.

(1)

The Social Security Contributions and Benefits (Northern Ireland) Act 199233 is amended as follows.

(2)

In section 70 (carer’s allowance)—

(a)

at the end of subsection (2)(da) omit “or”,

(b)

after subsection (2)(da), insert—

“(db)

an adult disability payment by virtue of entitlement to the daily living component at the standard or enhanced rate by virtue of the Disability Assistance for Working Age People (Scotland) Regulations 2022 in circumstances where the person is resident in Northern Ireland and regulation 53(1) of those Regulations applies; or”.

(3)

In section 121(1) (interpretation of Parts 1 to 6 and supplementary provisions)34—

(a)

after the definition of “additional primary percentage” insert—

““adult disability payment” means disability assistance given in accordance with the Disability Assistance for Working Age People (Scotland) Regulations 2022;”,

(b)

after the definition of “child” insert—

““child disability payment” means disability assistance given in accordance with the Disability Assistance for Children and Young People (Scotland) Regulations 2021;”.

Amendment of the State Pension Regulations (Northern Ireland) 201517.

(1)

The State Pension Regulations (Northern Ireland) 201535 are amended as follows.

(2)

In regulation 37 (credits for persons engaged in caring)—

(a)

at the end of paragraph (4)(h), for the full stop substitute a semi-colon,

(b)

after paragraph (4)(h), insert—

“(i)

the daily living component of adult disability payment at the standard or enhanced rate payable in accordance with regulation 5 of the Disability Assistance for Working Age People (Scotland) Regulations 2022, in circumstances where the person is resident in Northern Ireland and regulation 53(1) of those Regulations applies.”.

PART 6Information-sharing: England and Wales, and Scotland

Information-sharing: Secretary of State and the Scottish Ministers18.

(1)

This paragraph applies to information which is held by the Secretary of State in connection with determining any of the following—

(a)

whether a person meets the description in regulation 9(4)(c) (minimum ages for holding or obtaining licences) of the Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 199936,

(b)

whether a vehicle is a vehicle to which paragraph 1ZA(2A) of Schedule 1 (annual rates of duty) to the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 199437 applies,

(c)

whether a disabled person satisfies paragraph 19(2)(aab) (vehicles for disabled people) of Schedule 2 (exempt vehicles) to the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 199438.

(2)

Information to which paragraph (1) applies may be supplied by the Secretary of State to the Scottish Ministers to enable the Scottish Ministers to supply, under paragraph (4), information required in connection with determining the matters mentioned in paragraph (1).

(3)

This paragraph applies to information which is held by the Scottish Ministers for the purpose of a relevant Scottish social security function.

(4)

Information to which paragraph (3) applies may be supplied by the Scottish Ministers to the Secretary of State for use for the purpose of determining the matters mentioned in paragraph (1).

(5)

In paragraphs (1) to (4)—

(a)

references to the Secretary of State include a person providing services to the Secretary of State,

(b)

references to the Scottish Ministers include a person providing services to the Scottish Ministers.

(6)

Information supplied under this article must not be supplied by the recipient of the information to any other person without—

(a)

the authority of the Secretary of State, in the case of information supplied under paragraph (2),

(b)

the authority of the Scottish Ministers, in the case of information supplied under paragraph (4).

(7)

Where information supplied under this article has been used for the purpose for which it was supplied, it is lawful for the information to be used by the recipient for any other purposes for which information held for that purpose could lawfully be used.

(8)

In this article, “relevant Scottish social security function” means a function of the Scottish Ministers under regulations made under section 31 (disability assistance) of the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018.

Alister Jack
Secretary of State
Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order makes provision in consequence of section 31 (disability assistance) of the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018 (asp 9) (“the 2018 Act”) and regulations made under section 31 of the 2018 Act.

Articles 2 and 3 amend the Individual Savings Account Regulations 1998 (S.I. 1998/1870) and the Child Trust Funds Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1450) to permit applications to be made to Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs to allow withdrawal from Individual Savings Accounts or Child Trust Funds in respect of young persons aged 16-18 who are terminally ill within the meaning of the 2018 Act.

Article 4 makes provision to include persons in receipt of disability assistance for working age people within the definition of a “disabled person” for the purposes of rules relating to the treatment of property held in trust for the benefit of a disabled person under the Finance Act 2005 (c. 7).

Articles 5 to 7 amend the Finance Act 1994 (c. 9), the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994 (c. 22) and the Value Added Tax Act 1994 (c. 23) as regards the mobility component of disability assistance for working age people. These amendments ensure that persons in receipt of the mobility component of disability assistance for working age people and who are (i) users of the Accessible Vehicles and Equipment Scheme (the equivalent scheme in Scotland to the Motability Scheme) or (ii) registered keepers of a vehicle, benefit from the same tax exemptions, zero-rating and vehicle excise duty concessions applicable to persons in receipt of the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment.

Article 8 makes modifications to provide that receipt of the mobility component of disability assistance for working age people, at the enhanced rate, is among the forms of benefit which entitle a person to early acquisition of a driving licence, at the age of 16.

Articles 9 to 12 make modifications to provide that receipt of the mobility component of disability assistance for working age people, at the enhanced rate, is among the forms of benefit which entitle a person to apply to vote by proxy, and to sign by proxy a petition for recall of an MP, without the need for attestation of an application.

Article 13 makes modifications to provide that receipt of the daily living component of disability assistance for working age people, at the standard or enhanced rate, is among the qualifying benefits for Carer’s Allowance in England and Wales.

Article 14 makes modifications to provide that payment of disability assistance for working age people is a qualifying benefit for a Christmas Bonus in England and Wales, and Scotland.

Article 15 amends the State Pension Regulations 2015 (S.I. 2015/173) so that a person can be credited with a Class 3 national insurance credit for a week in which they are caring for someone who is entitled to a payment of the daily living component of disability assistance for working age people at the standard or enhanced rate.

Articles 16 and 17 make consequential amendments to social security legislation in Northern Ireland, governing entitlement to Carer’s allowance and Class 3 national insurance credit. Disability assistance for working age people is only available to people residing in Scotland. However, the Scottish Government will continue to make such assistance available for a period of 13 weeks for any person who relocates from Scotland to another part of the United Kingdom, from the date of the move, to allow for an application for Personal Independence Payment to be processed.

Article 18 contains a power to allow the Scottish Ministers and the Secretary of State to share information with each other in relation to determining the entitlement of an individual to obtain a driving licence for a small vehicle at the age of 16. Article 18 also contains a power to allow the Scottish Ministers and the Secretary of State to share information with each other in relation to the application of a 50% annual rate of vehicle excise duty, as a result of an individual being in receipt of the mobility component of disability assistance for working age people at the standard rate, or in relation to an exemption from liability to pay vehicle tax, as a result of being in receipt of the mobility component of disability assistance for working age people at the enhanced rate.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this Order as no, or no significant, impact on the private, public or voluntary sectors is foreseen.