Adult Disability Payment in Scotland

Adult Disability Payment is extra money to help you if you have a disability or long-term health condition that affects your daily life.

Adult Disability Payment has replaced Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for adults in Scotland. It’s paid by Social Security Scotland.

It’s not a means-tested benefit – this means it does not matter how much money or savings you have, or what other income you get.

The amount you get depends on how your condition affects your mobility and/or your ability to do everyday activities, such as preparing food or getting dressed.

You can apply for Adult Disability Payment if you meet the following criteria:

• Are over 16 and under State Pension age
• Have a disability, long-term physical or mental health condition, or a terminal illness

If you already get disability benefits

You cannot apply for Adult Disability Payment at the same time as:

• Armed Forces Independence Payment
• Attendance Allowance
• Child Disability Payment
• Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• Pension Age Disability Payment
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

If you already get PIP or DLA for adults, you do not need to apply for Adult Disability Payment – you should be moved over.

If you get Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

If you get PIP, you should have been told that you will be moving to Adult Disability Payment. If you have not had a letter about moving over, or you have questions or need support, contact Social Security Scotland.

If you get Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for adults

If you were born on or after 8 April 1948, your DLA might have started moving to Adult Disability Payment before 21 March 2025 if:

• You live in Scotland
• You reported a change to your disability or health condition
• You asked to move to Adult Disability Payment
• Your DLA ended or renewed

If you have not had a letter from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) or Social Security Scotland, your benefit will automatically move to Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance (Scottish Adult DLA) before December 2025.

If you’re over State Pension age

if you’ve reached State Pension age, you can still apply for Adult Disability Payment if you:

• Were previously getting PIP or DLA for adults that stopped a year ago or less, and
• Have the same health condition or disability that you had when you got the benefit before – or a new condition caused by your earlier condition

You can only get the same part of Adult Disability Payment as you got before. For example, if you only got the daily living part of PIP, you’ll only get the daily living part of Adult Disability Payment.

Moving from Child Disability Payment

If your child gets Child Disability Payment, they’ll need to apply for Adult Disability Payment when they turn 18. This does not happen automatically. They can apply once they turn 15 years and 9 months, up until their 18th birthday. If they apply in time and their application is successful, there will not be a gap in payments.

Adult Disability Payment is usually paid every four weeks into your bank account. If you are terminally ill, you will be paid weekly.

There are two parts – daily living and mobility. You may quality for one or both parts and the amount you’ll get depends on how much help you need for your personal care or getting around.

For more information and current rates, visit MyGOV.Scot.

You can apply online, or by phone and paper. If you need help with your application, you can contact your local Citizens Advice or Social Security Scotland. The application has two parts, whichever way you apply.

Applying online

To apply online, you’ll need to set up an online account with Social Security Scotland, called ‘myaccount’. When applying:

• You will need to complete part one within 14 days of starting your application. You can save your progress and come back to it
• Once you submit part one, you’ll have eight weeks to complete part two. If you need more time, you can ask Social Security Scotland – you do not need to give a reason

Payments can start from the day you begin your application, not the date of the decision – so it’s best to start as soon as you can.

Applying by phone and paper

To apply by phone and paper, you will need to:

• Call Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222 (8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday) to start your application. It’s free to call
• Give your details so they can complete part one of the application over the phone for you
• They’ll then post you a paper form for part two, along with a freepost return envelope

You need to send it back within eight weeks, but you can ask for more time if needed.

Supporting information

In part two of the application, the supporting information you give should describe how your disability or condition affects you and what support you need to carry out everyday tasks, such as washing, dressing, and eating.

Social Security Scotland uses supporting information to decide whether you should get Adult Disability Payment.

You can provide any information you think will help them in their decision. These could be things that you already have, such as:

• Medical reports, certificates, or notes
• Social care assessments
• A prescription list of your medications
• Test results

You can also ask someone who knows you well (like a carer, support worker, or family member) to write a statement about how your condition affects your daily life.

If you do not have supporting information

Do not worry if you do not have supporting information for part two of the application. You should still send your form within the eight weeks. You can also ask Social Security Scotland to help get supporting information for you.

Sending supporting information

If you’ve been asked to send supporting information, you can upload your documents to your ‘myaccount’, or you can send them by post – you cannot send them via email. You should send your supporting information within 28 days of submitting part two of your application.

Once you have applied, Social Security Scotland may contact you if:

• You asked for help getting more supporting information
• They need more information about your answers
• Any information is missing or that you were not able to give. For example, account details for your payments
• You are invited to take part in a consultation

Taking part in a consultation

In some cases, Social Security Scotland may need to talk to you to make a decision about your application. They may ask you to take part in a consultation with a health and social care practitioner from Social Security Scotland.

Your consultation may be:

• By phone
• By video call
• In your home
• At a local public venue

Being invited to a consultation might feel a bit worrying, but it’s not a diagnosis or medical examination of your condition. It should only cover areas of your application they need more information about. If you’re invited, it’s important to go as it’s your opportunity to tell them how your disability affects your life.

After the consultation, they’ll write a report to send to your case manager. This report will help them decide whether to award you Adult Disability Payment.

Once you’ve applied, you’ll get updates on the progress of your application. You should get a decision within four months (unless you are terminally ill, then it will be in seven days), and it will be sent to you by post. In some complex cases, a decision may take up to six months.

A decision is called a ‘determination’. If your application is successful, you will be told which part of Adult Disability Payment you’ll get – daily living, mobility, or both and how much you will get for each part.

If your application is not successful, they will explain why.

You can challenge the decision if you disagree with:

• The outcome of your application
• How much you’ll be paid
• When your payments should start

There are two stages to challenge a decision:

• Stage one – re-determination
• Stage two – appeal

You must request a re-determination before you can appeal. If you apply for an appeal without a previous re-determination request, your request for an appeal will not be accepted.

You can request a re-determination or an appeal by calling Social Security Scotland for free on 0800 182 2222 or by using this form on MyGOV.Scot.

For more information about the process and stages of challenging a decision, visit MyGOV.Scot.

You can always contact us if you need support with your application or challenging a decision.

Author: Muscular Dystrophy UK
Last reviewed: June 2025
Next review due: June 2028