It helps with the extra costs that come with being disabled or having a long-term health condition. If you care for someone who is disabled or has a long-term health condition, you may be able to apply for ADP on their behalf.
ADP replaces Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in Scotland. You should have received a letter from Social Security Scotland to let you know about this change.
Eligibility
- You are between age 16 and State Pension age (this depends on your sex and date of birth)
- You live in Scotland
- You have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability (a condition or disability that has lasted at least 13 weeks, and is expected to last another 39 weeks or more), or a terminal illness
- You cannot get ADP at the same time as:
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Attendance Allowance
- Child Disability Payment
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- Pension Age Disability Payment
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
You do not need a formal diagnosis of your condition to get Adult Disability Payment.
Weekly amounts
Adult Disability Payment is split into two parts. You can get one or both parts, depending on your needs – but you only need to make one application.
- Daily living component: if your ability to carry out day-to-day activities is limited by a physical or mental health condition or disability
- Mobility component: if your ability to plan and follow journeys or move around is limited by a physical or mental health condition or disability
ADP is not affected by your working status, income or savings.
Social Security Scotland looks at how much your day-to-day activities or mobility are affected by your health condition or disability. They use a points system to decide which rate of ADP you get.
| Daily living component | Weekly amount |
|---|---|
| Standard | £73.90 |
| Enhanced | £110.40 |
| Mobility component | Weekly amount |
|---|---|
| Standard | £29.20 |
| Enhanced | £77.05 |
Daily living
- Eating, drinking, preparing and cooking food
- Taking care of personal hygiene and using the toilet
- Getting dressed and undressed
- Reading and clearly communicating
- Managing and taking medication
- Making financial decisions
Mobility needs
This can also be affected by mental health, not just physical health.
- Physically moving around
- Leaving your home
- Figuring out a route and being able to accurately follow it
Apply or find out more
- Apply on the Scot Gov website
- View the online factsheet from Carers UK
- Read more info from Citizens Advice
- Use the benefits calculator from Edinburgh Council
- Contact Social Security Scotland online or by calling 0800 182 2222
Contact VOCAL
If you still have any questions about Adult Disability Payment, you can contact our benefits team at VOCAL. We provide one-to-one advice, as well as regular advice surgeries where we offer benefits checks to carers we support.
Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
Scottish Adult DLA is a new benefit paid by Social Security Scotland, which replaces Disability Living Allowance (DLA) from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).
You cannot apply for Scottish Adult DLA. From 21 March 2025, you will automatically be moved onto Scottish Adult DLA if you:
- Are 18 or over
- Already get DLA from the DWP
- Live in Scotland
You will receive the same amount of money through Scottish Adult DLA as you did through DLA from the DWP. There should be no gaps in the payments you receive.
If you receive Scottish Adult DLA, you can keep receiving this for as long as you are eligible. You also have the option to apply for Adult Disability Payment (ADP) instead, but they have slightly different criteria and payment amounts. Find out more about the difference between ADP and Scottish Adult DLA on the Scot Gov website.
