Adult Disability Payment is a new benefit for adults with disabilities who live in Scotland. 

It replaces Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for adults who live in Scotland. 

It is administered by Social Security Scotland. 

It is not means-tested. 

It is not taxable. 

• Eligibility

• Disability affecting daily living or mobility 

• Find out if you qualify

• Terminal illness

• Further Guidance

Eligibility

Adult Disability Payment is only available for people who live in Scotland.

Adult Disability Payment is for people aged between 16 and 66. If you are already getting Child Disability Payment or child Disability Living Allowance and you live in Scotland, you can stay on your existing benefits until you are 18.  

There is an Adult Disability Payment eligibility checker on the Scottish Government website  

Disability affecting daily living or mobility 

You may be entitled to Adult Disability Payment if you have daily living and/or mobility needs, or if you are terminally ill. 

Unless you are terminally ill or you are transferring onto Adult Disability Payment from Child Disability Payment, Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment your needs must: 

• Have lasted for the past three months, and 
• Be expected to continue for the next nine months. 

Daily living needs 

You may have daily living needs if your disability or health condition means you need help doing these things to look after yourself: 

• Make food or cook 
• Eat and drink 
• Take your medication 
• Do your treatment 
• Wash and bathe 
• Go to toilet 
• Dress and undress 
• Speak 
• Read and understand 
• Socialise 
• Handle money 

It doesn't matter whether you actually get the help you need. 

Help can include things like encouraging or reminding you to do something. 

Mobility needs 

You may have mobility needs if you need help to get around outside your home independently. 

For example, you may count as having mobility needs if you need help to plan and follow a journey because of a learning difficulty, a mental health issue or a sensory impairment. 

You may count as having mobility needs if you have difficulty walking or are unable to walk. 

What help counts 

You count as needing help to do an activity if you need a person or a thing to: 

• Do it for you 
• Do it with you 
• Remind you to do it 
• Watch you do it to keep you safe 
• You may count as needing help if you need help but do not actually get it. For example, if you do an activity yourself but: 
• It isn’t safe 
• You can’t do it well enough 
• You can’t do it often enough 
• It takes you a long time. 

Find out if you qualify 

To qualify for Adult Disability Payment, you have to score enough points for daily living or mobility (or both).

Terminal illness 

If you are terminally ill , your claim for Adult Disability Payment is treated differently. 

You do not need to show you have had the condition for three months.  

You do not need to score points on the questions asked in the ADP form. 

You will automatically be awarded enhanced rate of daily living and mobility components. 

The Scottish Government uses a different definition of terminal illness to the English Government. The Scottish definition of terminal illness is based on your doctor’s opinion of your illness.  

You will need your doctor to fill in a BASRiS form for you to send to Social Security Scotland. Someone else can apply on your behalf if you consent. 

Further Guidance

Disability Rights UK have a detailed online ADP guide. The guide covers information on such as how you're assessed and how you can keep a diary.  

Adult Disability Payment has two components, each of which has two rates. You might be awarded only one component, or both components. 

Daily living

• Daily living standard rate: £72.65 per week 
• Daily living enhanced rate: £108.55 per week 

Mobility

• Mobility standard rate: £28.70 per week 
• Mobility enhanced rate: £75.75 per week 

• You can apply online for Adult Disability Payment
• Or by phone on 0800 182 2222 to start an application.

The Scottish Government provides independent help with Adult Disability Payment applications. You can contact Social Security Scotland.

You won’t usually have to have a face-to-face assessment when claiming Adult Disability Payment. 

By law, the letter needs to give clear and accessible guidance and explanations to you about the decision that’s been made.

It will also tell you what to do if you do not agree with the decision. 

There's a two-stage process to challenge a decision.

Stage 1 - Re-determination

You have 42 days (6 weeks) to request a re-determination. Sometimes Social Security Scotland will accept re-determination requests made late if you provide a good reason. 

When Social Security Scotland get your re-determination request, they’ll let you know they have it and how long they have to make a new decision.

You can request a re-determination:

• Online or
• calling Social Security Scotland free on 0800 182 2222 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm), or
• filling in a re-determination request paper form

Stage 2 - Appeal

You can only request an appeal if you have received a re-determination (or Stage 1) decision and you disagree with it. You can also appeal if you don't get a re-determination decision in time.

Your appeal request will be sent to the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland. They are totally independent from Social Security Scotland. They will look at your request and make a decision on your appeal.

You can request an appeal within 31 days of getting a re-determination decision or if they have not been able to make their re-determination decision in time. If you request an appeal more than 31 days after getting this letter, you should explain the reasons why you have not requested an appeal sooner. The First-tier Tribunal for Scotland will decide if they can accept your request.

You can request an appeal:

• Online or
• calling Social Security Scotland free on 0800 182 2222 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm), or
• filling in an appeal request paper form

Scotland has started to transfer existing Personal Independence Payment claims to Adult Disability Payment since August 2022. It will take until Summer 2024 for Scottish Government to finish the move. 

You will continue to receive the same rate of benefit. You won’t have to fill in any forms or go to a new assessment. You shouldn’t see any gap in your payments. 

Read more about Moving from Personal Independence Payment to Adult Disability Payment on the Scottish Gov website. 

You cannot get Adult Disability Payment at the same time as getting these benefits: 

• Personal Independence Payment (PIP) 
• Disability Living Allowance (in your own name – you can continue to get it for a child you are responsible for) 
• Armed Forces Independence Payment 
• Attendance Allowance

Exemption from shared room rate 

People who get Adult Disability Payment get an exception from Local Housing Allowance (LHA) shared room rate for under 35s – if you are awarded Adult Disability Payment and get benefits to help with your rent, make sure you tell the Housing Benefit office or Universal Credit that you’re getting Adult Disability payment.  

Exemption from the benefit cap 

People who get Adult Disability Payment are exempt from the benefit cap. If you are awarded Adult Disability Payment and get Housing Benefit or Universal Credit, make sure you tell the Housing Benefit office or Universal Credit that you’re getting Adult Disability payment. 

And...

People who get Adult Disability Payment are exempt from non-dependant deductions. If you are awarded Adult Disability Payment and get benefits to help with your rent, make sure you tell the Housing Benefit office or Universal Credit that you’re getting Adult Disability Payment. 

Other help 

Adult Disability Payment gives access to lots of other help – check out our guide on extra help you can get if you receive a disability benefit.