Women’s health: Scotland’s opportunity to reform discriminatory eligibility criteria for social security benefits

The Scotland Act 2016 gave the Scottish Government devolved powers for social security and certain benefits. Adult Disability Payment (ADP) will replace the Personal Independence Payment (PIP), which supports people living with health conditions. The Scottish Government will conduct an independent review of the ADP within a year of its introduction, with a view to amending the original PIP eligibility criteria. The criteria have been heavily criticised i.e., the descriptors used and the need for an individual to be affected >50% of the time. Responses to the ADP Regulation consultation identified that ADP, using original PIP criteria, would not cater fairly for fluctuating conditions.

One of these conditions is Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD).
PMDD is a serious hormone-based mood disorder known to affect 1 in 20 women (and individuals assigned female at birth). PMDD has a debilitating impact on all aspects of life, including education, career, relationships, parenting, comorbidity and everyday living. One in 3 people with PMDD attempt suicide. The eligibility criteria of >50% is an unfair method when assessing fluctuating conditions such as PMDD. Clinically, PMDD affects people in the luteal phase of their menstrual cycle (typically 2wks per month). However, the impact of PMDD, with its monthly recurrence between adolescence and menopause (approximately 30yrs) results in long-lasting effects which impact people outside of their luteal phase. ADP criteria therefore require reform to ensure people with PMDD are provided with fair and appropriate support. This paper explores opportunities for improving ADP processes for fluctuating conditions such as PMDD.