How to Apply for ADP (Adult Disability Payment) and Maximise the Benefits in Scotland

In Scotland, the Adult Disability Payment (ADP) is a financial support system designed to help disabled people and people with disabilities or long-term health conditions in Scotland meet extra costs associated with their conditions. This guide will explain what ADP is, how it works, and how you can apply for it, so you can better understand your rights and access the support available to you.

If you are in England or Wales, you will need to claim PIP and can find out more about it in our Purpl Guide to PIP here.

If you live in Northern Ireland and wish to apply for PIP benefit, you will need to follow their process. Find out more information on how to apply for Personal Independence Payment in Northern Ireland.

Information correct as of 10th April 2025

In this Guide

What is Adult Disability Payment (ADP)?
How Much Do You Get for ADP?
Who is Eligible for ADP?
How to Apply for ADP
Get Help to Apply for ADP
How to Apply for ADP if you are Terminally Ill
Important Tips for a Successful ADP Application
How to Appeal an ADP Decision
What Other Benefits can I Claim with ADP?

What is Adult Disability Payment (ADP)?

The Adult Disability Payment (ADP) is a benefit available to disabled people in Scotland who have a disability or long-term health condition that affects their ability to carry out daily activities. This payment helps with the additional costs that can arise from a disability, such as mobility issues, personal care needs, or equipment required for daily living.

ADP is part of Scotland’s devolved social security system, meaning it is administered and managed by the Scottish Government. It replaced Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in Scotland in 2022.

ADP offers two types of support, you may qualify for one or both parts. The amount you get depends on how your condition affects your ability to do everyday activities and get around.

ADP Daily Living Component

You may qualify for the daily living part if you need help with:

preparing food
taking nutrition (eating and drinking)
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

ADP Mobility Component

You may qualify for the mobility component of Adult Disability Payment if your ability to plan and follow journeys or move around is limited by a physical or mental health condition or disability.

Did you know that ADP is not means tested? You can work full time and earn a salary without it impacting your ADP disability benefit claim.
Georgina’s Top Disability Savings Tips

How Much do you get for ADP?

There are two components to the ADP payment, each with different rates. The rate you get will depend on how much your mobility is affected by your health condition or disability.

ADP Daily Living Component Award Payment:

£72.65 a week for a standard award
£108.55 a week for an enhanced award

To work this out, Social Security Scotland will look at your ability to carry out the day-to-day activities using a points system:

If you get between 8 and 11 points in total, you will get the standard rate of the daily living component which is £72.65 a week.
If you get 12 or more points in total, you will get the enhanced rate of the daily living component which is £108.55 a week.

If you’re terminally ill you’ll automatically get the enhanced daily living award.

ADP Mobility Component Award Payment::

£28.70 a week for a standard award
£75.75 a week for an enhanced award

To work this out, Social Security Scotland will look at your ability to carry out the mobility activities using a points system:

If you get between 8 and 11 points in total, you will get the standard rate of the mobility component which is £28.70 a week
If you get 12 or more points in total, you’ll get the enhanced rate of the mobility component which is £75.75 a week

You can apply to lease an accessible vehicle if you get an enhanced award for the mobility part.

You may be eligible for one or both components, it will be dependent on your individual case.

two disabled women wheelchair users outdoors chatting

Who is Eligible for ADP?

To be eligible for the Adult Disability Payment (ADP), you must meet certain criteria:

Age: You must be between 16 and the state pension age.
Residency: You need to be a resident of Scotland.
Health Condition or Disability: You must have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability that significantly affects your ability to perform daily activities or get around.
Financial Need: While the payment itself is not means-tested, it is based on how much your condition affects your daily life.

You can use the eligibility checker for ADP here.

How to Apply for ADP

Applying for the Adult Disability Payment (ADP) is straightforward, and the process is designed to be as simple as possible for applicants. Here is how to apply for ADP in Purpl’s step-by-step guide:

You can apply:

online – by completing an application form on mygov.scot
by phone – by calling Social Security Scotland free on 0800 182 2222, Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm
by post – you can phone to ask for a paper form with a pre-paid envelope
face-to-face – an adviser from Social Security Scotland’s local delivery service can help you apply. Phone 0800 182 2222 to make an appointment.

If you’re a British Sign Language (BSL) user, you can use the contactSCOTLAND app to contact Social Security Scotland by video relay.

During the ADP application process, you may be asked to provide medical evidence to support your claim. Supporting information describes how your condition affects you and what support you need. Social Security Scotland uses supporting information to help them make a decision.

You can provide any information you think will be helpful, but supporting information can be copies of documents that you might have already, for example:

social care assessments
medical reports, letters or certificates
prescription lists that show the medication you take
test results.

Supporting information can also be a statement from someone who knows you well and how your health problem or disability affects your daily life.

If you don’t have any supporting information, don’t delay returning ‘part 2’ of the application. Social Security Scotland might be able to help get supporting information if you ask them to.

Read more about supporting information on mygov.scot.

In some cases, you may be asked to attend an assessment or interview to discuss your condition and needs. This will help Social Security Scotland determine the level of support you are eligible for.

Once your application is submitted, Social Security Scotland will process it and send you a decision. This typically takes around 10-12 weeks. If you are eligible, you will receive your payments starting from the date your application was approved.

Get Help to Apply for ADP

You can get help to apply from:

Social Security Scotland’s local delivery service. Phone 0800 182 2222 to make an appointment
a Citizens Advice Bureau.

You can also get help to apply for Adult Disability Payment on mygov.scot, you can also use this if you require support because English is not your main language.

You can also fill in a form to authorise someone to speak to Social Security Scotland on your behalf. This might be helpful if you feel unable to find the information you need or understand things about your application.

You can download a third-party authorisation form on mygov.scot.

Help from the Independent Advocacy Service

You can also get help from the Independent Advocacy Service. This service is provided by VoiceAbility.

You can get an advocate by:

asking Social Security Scotland to refer you to the Independent Advocacy Service. Find out how to contact Social Security Scotland on mygov.scot
contacting VoiceAbility. Find out more about support to access benefits on the VoiceAbility website.

VoiceAbility can help you express your views, get information you need and help you make decisions.

a white man in a red beanie and suit jacket is sat on a bench with a wheelchair user, white female with long fair hair

How to Apply for ADP if you are Terminally Ill

If you are terminally ill, you should apply for Adult Disability Payment straight away. It does not matter how long you’ve been ill for. During this stressful and difficult part of your life, ADP can help you and your family financially.

You can get the enhanced rate of both the daily living component and the mobility component.

To apply, you need to complete a short application form. Once you apply, your application will be fast-tracked and dealt with by specially trained staff.

Get advice and help to apply from an adviser at a Citizens Advice Scotland.

Important Tips for a Successful ADP Application

Be Thorough: Make sure to provide as much information as possible about how your condition affects your daily life, including any support you receive.
Include Medical Evidence: The more evidence you can provide from healthcare professionals or support workers, the better.
Keep a Record: Keep copies of all your application forms and any correspondence with Social Security Scotland.

How to Appeal an ADP Decision

You can ask Social Security Scotland to look again at the decision about your Adult Disability Payment application. This is called asking for a re-determination. The appeal process allows you to challenge the decision, and you may be asked to provide more evidence or attend an independent assessment.

You can ask for a re-determination:

by phone – by phoning Social Security Scotland. Take a note of the date, time and who you speak to
online – check if you can ask for a re-determination online at mygov.scot
by post – by filling out the form that was sent with your decision letter, send your letter to:

Social Security Scotland – Re-determinations
PO Box 10303
DUNDEE
DD1 9FY

Tel: 0800 182 2222 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm)

British Sign Language: contactSCOTLAND app by video relay

Website: www.mygov.scot

You have 42 days from the date you got a decision, to ask for a re-determination of Adult Disability Payment

What Other Benefits can I Claim with ADP?

Those people who are in receipt of ADP disability benefit will be eligible for other discounts and benefits to help reduce the cost of living with a disability.

Please browse through our other articles on Purpl Life that highlight the benefits for disabled people in the UK.

Some of these benefits include:

Are you a Purpl Member?

If you are a disabled person living in the UK, you could join the UK’s first and fasted growing disabled discount site for free! Don’t take our word for it! We have thousands of members saving money every week with Purpl!

I saved £48 this month on my Morrisons shop, thanks to Purpl. Our members love Purpl, join today and start saving money

About the Author

Georgina, founder of Purpl, smiling in a pink patterned dress against a pastel background. Beside her, a message highlights her commitment to helping disabled people save money through exclusive discounts while advocating for accessibility, financial support, and independence. | Purpl disabled discounts, accessibility savings UK.

Georgina is the founder of Purpl, a platform dedicated to helping disabled people save money through exclusive discounts. Living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and ADHD, she understands firsthand the financial challenges of living with a disability. Her mission is to work with brands to secure discounts that ease the cost of essential products, services, and everyday expenses for the disabled community.

She lives in Hampshire, UK, with her husband, son, three stepsons, two cats, and a friendly Labrador. A keen reader, Lego enthusiast, and family-focused person, Georgina is committed to building a supportive, inclusive community for those navigating life with a disability.

Follow @Purpldiscounts on Facebook, Instagram and Tiktok for the latest disability discounts, financial advice, and accessibility resources.

Check out these discounts!

Morrisons Disabled Discount: 10% off every shop, min. spend £25 – home delivery or click & collect
LEGOLAND® Windsor Exclusive Discounts: 10% off Legoland Standard Tickets
Carphone Warehouse Disabled Discounts: check out our latest mobile offers

All Articles