Adult Disability Payment (ADP) Scotland Guide 2026/27 -- Eligibility, Components and How It Differs from PIP

Why Scotland has its own disability benefit

Under the Scotland Act 2016, disability and carer benefits were devolved to the Scottish Parliament. Social Security Scotland was set up to deliver these benefits, and ADP became the main working-age disability benefit from 2022, replacing new claims for PIP. Existing PIP claimants resident in Scotland were transferred across in stages -- known as 'case transfer' -- with the process completed for the great majority of claimants by 2025.

The two components

ADP mirrors the PIP structure of two components, each assessed independently:

• Daily living component -- extra costs of tasks like preparing food, washing and bathing, dressing, managing medication and treatments, and engaging socially. Paid at standard or enhanced rate.
• Mobility component -- extra costs of getting around, split between planning and following a journey, and moving around physically. Paid at standard or enhanced rate.

You can be awarded neither, one or both components depending on the impact of your condition, and the two are assessed against a similar points-based framework to the one used for PIP.

How the Social Security Scotland process differs from PIP

Social Security Scotland has committed to a 'dignity, fairness and respect' approach that changes several practical aspects of the claims process compared with PIP:

• More decisions are made from paper evidence alone, without a face-to-face, telephone or video consultation, where the application and supporting evidence are considered sufficient.
• Where a condition is not expected to improve, longer or indefinite award periods are used more often, reducing the frequency of reassessment.
• A dedicated Short-Term Assistance payment bridges any gap in income while a redetermination or appeal against a reduced or stopped award is under way.
• The challenge process uses a 'redetermination' rather than a Mandatory Reconsideration, decided by Social Security Scotland, before any appeal to the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland.

Terminal illness: the Special Rules

If you are terminally ill, you can apply under the Special Rules for Terminal Illness. This automatically awards the enhanced daily living component and fast-tracks the claim, while the mobility component is still assessed against your actual care and mobility needs. Scotland applies a 12-month clinical prognosis definition, and a clinician (not necessarily the person themselves) can complete the supporting evidence form (the BASRiS).

How ADP interacts with other support

Receiving the ADP daily living component at either rate can passport a carer to Carer Support Payment (Scotland's replacement for Carer's Allowance) or Carer's Allowance if the carer lives elsewhere in the UK. ADP can also unlock premiums and elements within Universal Credit, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction, broadly in the same way PIP does south of the border. Because ADP is not counted as income for means-tested benefits, receiving it does not reduce Universal Credit, Housing Benefit or Pension Credit awards.

Applying and challenging a decision

Applications can be made online, by phone, by post or face to face at a local Social Security Scotland service centre, and someone else can apply on your behalf with your permission. If you disagree with the outcome, you can ask for a redetermination within the time limit shown on your decision letter, requesting Short-Term Assistance at the same time if your payment has been reduced or stopped. If the redetermination does not resolve things, you can appeal to the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland, Social Security Chamber.