What is Adult Disability Payment?

What it is

Adult Disability Payment (ADP) is run by Social Security Scotland. It helps with the extra costs of a disability or long-term health condition. It is the Scottish version of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), which is paid in England and Wales.

It has two parts:

• daily living, for things like preparing food, washing, dressing, talking to people and managing money
• mobility, for planning journeys and moving around

You can get one part or both.

Who it is for

You can apply if you:

• are aged 16 or over and under State Pension age
• live in Scotland (some people abroad who spent most of their life in Scotland can apply too)
• have a disability, a long-term physical or mental health condition, or a terminal illness

You do not need a diagnosis to apply.

How much you get (2026/27)

The most you can get is £194.60 a week, about £10,119 a year. If you are terminally ill, you automatically get the enhanced daily living rate.

Example: you get standard daily living (£76.70) and enhanced mobility (£80.00). That is £156.70 a week, or £626.80 every 4 weeks.

Your rate depends on points across 12 activities. Your decision letter shows the points for each one.

How to apply

1. Check you are eligible using the conditions above.
2. Apply online through Social Security Scotland, or call 0800 182 2222 (8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday) and get a paper form.
3. Send part 1 within 14 days.
4. Send part 2 within 56 days. You can ask for more time. If you do not, Social Security Scotland assumes you do not plan to finish, and deletes the application 90 days after you started it.
5. Send supporting information within 28 days of sending part 2, online or by post. You cannot send it by email.

If you are applying because someone is terminally ill, the whole form can be done in one go.

Things to know

• Moving from PIP. If you get PIP and live in Scotland, you are moved to ADP without having to reapply.
• Moving to Scotland. If you get PIP and move to Scotland from England or Wales, your PIP stops 13 weeks after you move. Apply for ADP as soon as you can.
• Child Disability Payment. Young people must apply for ADP separately. You can apply from 15 (shortly before 16) up to your 18th birthday with no gap in payments.
• Report changes such as a change in your needs, a house move, or a stay in hospital of 28 days or more.
• Disagree with a decision? Ask for a redetermination within 42 calendar days. If you still disagree, you can appeal to the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland within 31 calendar days.

If you live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland

ADP is only for Scotland. In England and Wales you claim PIP from DWP. In Northern Ireland, PIP is run by the Department for Communities.

Related guides

• What is PIP (Personal Independence Payment)?
• How much is PIP?
• What is Child Disability Payment?
• What is Pension Age Disability Payment?
• What is Carer Support Payment in Scotland?
• How does PIP work in Northern Ireland?

Where these figures come from

• Adult Disability Payment (mygov.scot)
• Who can apply, how to apply, after you apply and decisions
• Moving to Scotland: tell your benefit provider
• How to challenge a Social Security Scotland decision
• Personal Independence Payment (GOV.UK)
• PIP in Northern Ireland (nidirect)