Adult Disability Payment

Adult Disability Payment is the Scottish replacement for Personal Independence Payment for working-age adults. It uses the same two-component structure (Daily Living and Mobility), the same 0/8/12-point scoring thresholds, and the same monetary rates. What differs is how Social Security Scotland runs the process: fewer face-to-face assessments, a client-led application form, and a lighter-touch review cycle. The rate your award is paid at is calculated identically to PIP.

The two components

Daily Living and Mobility are scored separately. Each has a standard rate and an enhanced rate. You can receive one, the other, or both — in any combination of standard and enhanced. Points are awarded for each activity based on the descriptor that best matches your reliable functional ability.

The scoring bands

Within each component: 0-7 points = no award; 8-11 points = standard rate; 12 or more points = enhanced rate. Rates match PIP and are uprated every April.

The activity tables

Daily Living: 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 with other people face-to-face; and making budgeting decisions. Mobility: planning and following journeys; and moving around. Identical activity list to PIP.

The reliability test

An activity only counts as something you can do if you can do it safely, to an acceptable standard, repeatedly, and in a reasonable time. If any one of these fails on the majority of days, you cannot do it reliably. This is the single most important scoring rule and the one most often forgotten when describing your condition on the ADP form.

The process differences from PIP

Social Security Scotland has designed ADP as a client-led process. Practical differences:

• Longer application form. The ADP application is more detailed than PIP2, but less adversarial in tone — it's designed for you to describe your own situation rather than answer tick-box questions.
• No default face-to-face assessment. Social Security Scotland aims to make decisions on a paper basis where possible, using your application plus supporting information from your GP or care team. A face-to-face consultation happens only where the information isn't enough.
• Supporting information drawn in by SSS. You consent on the form for Social Security Scotland to contact your healthcare professionals directly, rather than having to gather all evidence yourself.
• Lighter-touch review cycle. Awards are longer by default, and reviews are proportionate to the condition.
• Re-determination, not mandatory reconsideration. If you disagree with the decision, you ask for a re-determination within 42 days. If still unsatisfied, you appeal to the First-tier Tribunal (Social Security Chamber).

Moving between Scotland and the rest of the UK

If you move to Scotland from England, Wales, or Northern Ireland, your PIP is transferred automatically to ADP by Social Security Scotland — no action required. If you move the other way, ADP ends and you apply for PIP at DWP. There's a temporary grace period so you don't lose out during the transfer.

For the PIP equivalent and the two processes side-by-side, see our comparison PIP vs Adult Disability Payment.

Skipping the narrative detail

The ADP form gives more space for narrative than PIP2. Use it. Description of what happens on the majority of days is the substance of the award. The form is designed to capture your voice — a short, bland answer ("I manage", "I get by") gives SSS nothing to score. Describe specifically: how long does it take? what happens when you try? who helps? what's the outcome if there's no one?

Not listing all healthcare professionals

Because SSS gathers supporting information directly, the completeness of the healthcare contact list on your form is critical. Missing a consultant, a community psychiatric nurse, an occupational therapist, or a physiotherapist means SSS can't draw on their records. List every professional involved, even occasional ones.

Describing a best-case day

As with PIP, the assessment is "on the majority of days". Describing what happens on a good day — when you're resting, feeling level, not in a flare — means the award will reflect that. Describe what happens typically. Include bad-day descriptions where a condition fluctuates meaningfully.

Missing the 42-day re-determination window

If you disagree with the decision, you have 42 days from the date on the decision letter to request a re-determination. Miss it and you lose the right to re-determine — you can appeal directly to tribunal but that's a steeper process. Request the re-determination well within the window.

Assuming the PIP award amount doesn't apply

ADP rates match PIP rates exactly. If you're estimating the value of an award, use the current PIP figures (£76.70 and £114.60 a week for Daily Living at 2026/27 rates, £30.30 and £80.00 a week for Mobility) and combine as appropriate.