PIP vs Adult Disability Payment
DWP (England, Wales, Northern Ireland) vs Social Security Scotland
The short answer
If you live in Scotland, you apply for Adult Disability Payment through Social Security Scotland. If you live in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland, you apply for PIP through DWP. Existing PIP recipients who move to Scotland are transferred automatically.
Adult Disability Payment is the Scottish replacement for Personal Independence Payment (PIP). The rates, components, and daily-living and mobility activity tests are aligned with PIP, but the Scottish assessment process and administrative rules are different.
- England
- Wales
- Northern Ireland
Personal Independence Payment
Administered by DWP. Applies in England, Wales, Northern Ireland.
Non-means-tested DWP benefit for working-age adults in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland with a long-term health condition or disability affecting daily living or mobility.
- Scotland
Adult Disability Payment
Administered by Social Security Scotland. Applies in Scotland.
Scotland's replacement for PIP, administered by Social Security Scotland, for working-age people with a disability or long-term health condition.
Rates side-by-side
| Rate | Amount | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Daily living part — higher weekly rate | £114.60 | WEEKLY |
| Daily living part — lower weekly rate | £76.70 | WEEKLY |
| Mobility part — higher weekly rate | £80 | WEEKLY |
| Mobility part — lower weekly rate | £30.30 | WEEKLY |
| Rate | Amount | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Daily living – enhanced award | £114.60 | WEEKLY |
| Daily living – standard award | £76.70 | WEEKLY |
| Mobility – enhanced award | £80 | WEEKLY |
| Mobility – standard award | £30.30 | WEEKLY |
Eligibility side-by-side
- DISABILITYYou must have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability. [GOV.UK]
- OTHERThe difficulties must be expected to last for at least 12 months from when they started. [GOV.UK]
- AGEYou usually need to be under State Pension age to make a new PIP claim. If you're over State Pension age you cannot usually make a new claim for PIP, unless you got PIP or Adult Disability Payment (ADP) in the last 12 months. [GOV.UK]
- INCOMEPIP is not affected by your income or savings; you can get PIP if you're working or have savings. [GOV.UK]
- OTHERYou can get PIP at the same time as all other benefits, except Armed Forces Independence Payment. [GOV.UK]
- OTHERIf you get Constant Attendance Allowance you'll get less of the daily living part of PIP. [GOV.UK]
- + 12 more rules on the detail page.
- DISABILITYClaimant must have a disability or long-term health condition that affects their everyday life. [Scottish Government]
- WORK STATUSBeing in or out of work does not affect eligibility. [Scottish Government]
- DISABILITYClaimant may qualify for the mobility part if they need help with planning and following a journey or moving around. [Scottish Government]
- OTHERIf the claimant is terminally ill, they will automatically receive the enhanced daily living award. [Scottish Government]
- INCOMEIncome and savings are not taken into account. [Scottish Government]
- DISABILITYClaimant may qualify for the daily living part if they 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, or making budgeting decisions. [Scottish Government]
Which one applies to you?
These benefits are paired: each person qualifies for one of the two depending on where they live. Run the triage tool for a nation-aware answer.