New Adult Disability Payment application guide could help people claim up to £184 each week

Linda Howard
·5-min read

The latest statistics from Social Security Scotland show that at the end of July, some 314,495 people were receiving Adult Disability Payment (ADP), the devolved benefit that has now replaced all new claims for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) north of the border. Of that total figure, some 115,035 (37%) were new claimants and 199,460 (63%) were existing PIP case transfers from the Department for Work Pensions (DWP).

The data also indicates that the average time to process a new claim for ADP is now 61 working days, which means people making a new claim this month could have an award decision before the end of February. Eligibility for ADP is broadly similar to PIP, however, a new guide has been published which could help people understand what information is and isn’t necessary to include on the application form, especially if it’s their first time making a claim for a disability benefit.

READ MORE: PIP points and payment rates simplified to help people make a new claim for up to £737 each month

READ MORE: People making a new ADP claim this month could get backdated payments before February

The 'ADP application form and how to interpret it’ i s designed to help case managers make consistent and fair determinations for all individuals applying for the devolved payment.

The ADP claim form consists of two parts:

  • Part One - collects basic eligibility criteria which is required to determine eligibility

  • Part Two - gathers more specific details about the claimant’s needs

This includes five key areas:

  • The type of condition

  • The potential length of the condition - is it likely to improve or deteriorate

  • Common treatment pathways for the condition

  • Common symptoms related to the condition and ranges of severity

  • Areas of functional ability or parts of the body that may or may not be affected by the condition

The guidance goes into more detail for each section and gives example answers - not to be copied and pasted into a real application - which could help people who are unfamiliar with applying for disability assistance. One of the most important areas is on conditions, as this is the reason why you are applying for support in the first place.

This section includes details of:

  • The approximate length of time you have been experiencing the condition(s)

  • Any symptoms you are experiencing and the severity of these symptoms

  • How often you experience symptoms

  • Any treatment and / or care input you receive

The guidance also shares some condition specific examples including:

  • Depression and anxiety

  • Stroke

  • Autism

You can view these online at gov.scot here.

Functional questions

The functional questions give you an opportunity to tell Social Security Scotland about how your condition or disability impacts you in every day life.

A case manager will use this information to determine which descriptor to select for each of the daily living and mobility component activities There are 12 functional questions in the ADP application form which are similar to PIP.

Daily Living component questions

  • Preparing food

  • Taking nutrition

  • Managing therapy or monitoring a health condition

  • Washing and bathing

  • Managing toilet needs or incontinence

  • Dressing and undressing

  • Communicating verbally

  • Reading and understanding signs, symbols and words

  • Engaging socially with other people face to face

  • Making budgeting decisions

Mobility component questions

  • Planning and following journeys

  • Moving around

For every functional question you should give a detailed account of your ability to carry it out.

The guidance states that to make a fair and consistent decision, the case manager should consider the following information about an individual's functional ability:

  • How are they currently completing the activity if at all

  • Do they use any aids or appliances to complete the activity

  • Do they need any assistance or support to complete the activity

  • Do they need prompting to complete the activity

In all cases, the case manager must also consider:

  • Are there any effects after completing the activity, for example fatigue or pain

  • Are there any safety risks associated with completing the task

  • How long does it take to complete the task

  • If it is normal to do so would they be able to repeat the task

There are also detailed examples to give claimants a bit more clarity on what information is relevant and should be included, you can read full details here.

Adult Disability Payment rates 2024/25

A successful claim for ADP is worth between £28.70 and £184.30 each week in additional financial support. As the benefit is paid every four weeks, this amounts to between £114.80 and £737.20 every payment period.

If you are awarded the Daily Living part you will be paid:

  • £72.65 each week - for a standard award

  • £108.55 each week - for an enhanced award

If you are awarded the mobility part you will be paid:

  • £28.70 a week - for a standard award

  • £75.75 a week - for an enhanced award

If you get an enhanced award for the mobility part, you can apply to lease an accessible vehicle - find out more here. If you are terminally ill you will automatically get the enhanced daily living award.

Who can apply for Adult Disability Payment?

You can apply for AD if you have a:

  • disability or long-term physical or mental health condition

  • terminal illness

Key points to note:

  • You can still apply if you're waiting for a diagnosis

  • You need to be between 16 and State Pension age

  • You cannot get PIP and ADP at the same time

Check if you qualify for Adult Disability Payment

You can apply for ADP if you have a disability or long-term health condition that affects your everyday life. You can check if you meet the other requirements to qualify for Adult Disability Payment before you start an application - find out more here.

Social Security Scotland will ask you questions about:

  • where you live

  • if you're on other benefits

  • your age

At this stage, they will not ask about your disability or health condition.

How to apply for Adult Disability Payment

People can apply ADP online, over the phone, by post or in-person. To find out more or apply, visit the dedicated pages on mygov.scot here or call Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222.

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