The latest figures from Social Security Scotland show that by the end of October 2022, merely 3,500 people across Scotland were receiving Adult Disability Payment (ADP). The new disability benefit is replacing Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for those aged under 65 on April 8, 2013.
Similar to PIP, ADP is designed to help cover the extra costs of being disabled, having a long-term health condition or terminal illness. Claimants who receive ADP will be paid between £24.45 and £156.90 per week and as it is paid every four weeks, this amounts to between £97.80 and £627.60 every payment period.
A successful claim for ADP can also open the door to additional benefit top-ups, help with housing costs, Council Tax and travel. However, people in Scotland may not be aware that a claim can be made while waiting for a diagnosis of a condition or illness.
Guidance on MyGov.Scot states: “You can apply for Adult Disability Payment if you have either a:
- disability or long-term physical or mental health condition
- terminal illness
“You can still apply if you're waiting for a diagnosis.”
If you, or a family member are over 16 and under State Pension age (66) with a physical or mental health condition, long-term illness or a disability, it may be worthwhile checking if you are eligible for ADP. This can be done online here before making a new claim - people already on PIP or Disability Living Allowance (DLA) cannot claim ADP and will have their case transferred from DWP to the devolved IT system by 2205.
New claims are currently taking up to 16 weeks to process, so if you are waiting on a diagnosis, it may be worthwhile starting one now.
Social Security Scotland recently announced that work is underway to speed up processing times for Adult Disability Payment. The devolved welfare agency said that the “majority of people will receive a decision within four months” but added that processing times can vary from a “few weeks to six months” in a small number of “very complex cases”.
The current end-to-end processing time for PIP, delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is also an average of 16 weeks.
Social Security Scotland said that some decisions are taking longer because new claimants have been unable to provide the supporting information needed to make a decision and asked Social Security Scotland to gather it for them. It said that collecting this information is a key difference between the Scottish system and the DWP.
You can find out more about Adult Disability Payment on the MyScot.Gov website here or by phoning Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222.
Below is a quick overview of what to expect when you start the application process with links to an online sample application form.
Eligibility for Adult Disability Payment is largely 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 their application form.
The 'The ADP application form and how to interpret it’ is designed to help case managers make consistent and fair determinations for all individuals applying for Adult Disability Payment.
The 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 here.
Functional questions
The functional questions give you an opportunity to tell Social Security Scotland about how your condition or disability impacts you in their daily 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
If you are awarded the Daily Living part you will be paid:
- £61.85 each week - for a standard award
- £92.40 each week - for an enhanced award
If you are awarded the mobility part you will be paid:
- £24.45 a week - for a standard award
- £64.50 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 Adult Disability Payment if you have either 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 Adult Disability Payment at the same time
Check if you qualify for Adult Disability Payment
You can apply for Adult Disability Payment 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.
Social Security Scotland will ask you questions about:
- where you live
- any restrictions on your right to live in the UK
- 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 Adult Disability Payment 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.
To keep up to date with the latest benefits news, join our Money Saving Scotland Facebook page here, follow us on Twitter @Record_Money, or subscribe to our newsletter which goes out Monday to Friday - sign up here.
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