Adult Disability Payment (ADP)

What it is, who can apply, and how ADHD and autism relate to the criteria, in Scotland

Reviewed by ADHD Scot,

What is ADP?

Adult Disability Payment (ADP) is Scotland's disability benefit for people whose health condition or disability affects their everyday life or ability to get around. It is administered by Social Security Scotland, not the DWP. (PIP is the equivalent benefit in England and Wales, run by the DWP. GOV.UK says: "If you live in Scotland You need to apply for Adult Disability Payment (ADP) instead of PIP.")

mygov.scot says: "Social Security Scotland have now transferred all cases expected to move from PIP to Adult Disability Payment" and "From 6 November 2025, anyone in Scotland who gets PIP will have to make a new application for Adult Disability Payment."

ADP is not means-tested. mygov.scot says: "It does not matter if you're working or not. Your income and savings are not taken into account."

Reference: Adult Disability Payment, mygov.scot

Who can apply?

You can apply for ADP if you:

  • Are aged 16 to State Pension age
  • Live in Scotland (mygov.scot also allows some people who live in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Gibraltar and "have spent a major part of your life in Scotland" to apply)
  • Have a disability, long-term physical or mental health condition, or terminal illness

You can apply while you are waiting for a diagnosis. mygov.scot says "Apply even if you're waiting for a diagnosis" and, about supporting information, "You do not need to include an official diagnosis." It does ask for a document from a professional that confirms your conditions, disability or needs.

If you live in Scotland and still get PIP, mygov.scot says you "will have to make a new application for Adult Disability Payment" from 6 November 2025. It also says: "If your DWP payments have stopped and you have a break in payments, find out what types of support you could be eligible for." Contact Social Security Scotland if you are unsure what applies to you.

For children under 16, the equivalent benefit is Child Disability Payment: see our Child Disability Payment guide.

Social Security Scotland has a suitability checker to confirm whether you can apply: mygov.scot/adult-disability-payment/applicants

The two components and current rates

ADP has two components. You can receive one or both.

Daily Living component: for people whose condition affects their ability to carry out everyday activities.

  • Standard rate: £76.70 per week
  • Enhanced rate: £114.60 per week

Mobility component: for people whose condition affects their ability to plan or follow a journey, or to move around.

  • Standard rate: £30.30 per week
  • Enhanced rate: £80.00 per week

The rates above were checked on mygov.scot on 20 October 2026, which also refers to "the annual increase to your Adult Disability Payment". Current rates are always at: mygov.scot/adult-disability-payment

How the assessment works: the 12 activities

ADP uses a points-based system across 12 activities (10 daily living, 2 mobility) to determine eligibility and which rate you receive. mygov.scot says Social Security Scotland "uses a points scoring system across 12 activities for the daily living and mobility parts. Each activity has a list of options. These options are descriptions for different levels of need." Your decision letter lists the points awarded for each of the 12 activities.

The 10 daily living activities, as mygov.scot lists them, are: 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, and making budgeting decisions.

Mobility activities assess your ability to plan and follow a journey and to move around.

Having a diagnosis does not automatically mean you will be awarded ADP. mygov.scot says "The amount you get depends on how your condition affects your ability to do everyday activities and get around." Be prepared for the possibility that an application may not succeed first time.

Can ADHD or autism qualify?

mygov.scot bases ADP on how a condition affects everyday activities, so whether ADHD or autism qualifies depends on your specific situation and how your condition affects you. The examples below are ADHD Scot illustrations of how difficulties could relate to the activities, not criteria published by Social Security Scotland.

How ADHD could relate to the activities

Difficulties that could be relevant include:

Preparing food: difficulty planning meals, forgetting to eat, struggling to organise multiple steps of cooking, or being unable to safely manage cooking due to distractibility or impulsivity.

Managing therapy or monitoring a health condition: difficulty remembering to take medication consistently, managing prescriptions, or attending medical appointments reliably.

Making financial decisions: impulsivity around spending, difficulty managing bills, budgeting, or organising finances over time.

Engaging with other people: difficulties with social communication, rejection sensitivity, or sustaining relationships.

Planning and following a journey: time blindness, difficulty arriving on time, getting overwhelmed in unfamiliar or busy environments.

How autism could relate to the activities

Preparing food: sensory sensitivities limiting what food can be tolerated; difficulty with unstructured or multi-step tasks.

Washing, bathing, and dressing: sensory sensitivities around textures, clothing, and water; reliance on rigid routine; significant distress when routines are disrupted.

Communicating verbally: differences in verbal communication; difficulty processing spoken information under pressure; selective mutism in some people.

Engaging with other people: social communication differences, difficulty reading social situations, significant anxiety around social interaction, limited capacity for social contact.

Planning and following a journey: heavy reliance on fixed routines; extreme difficulty with unfamiliar routes or environments; sensory overload in busy public spaces; inability to manage unexpected changes mid-journey.

What counts as evidence

mygov.scot describes supporting information as "usually copies of documents or letters you already have at home" that "confirm your conditions, disability or needs" and "describe the impact the conditions or disability have on your life". It can be uploaded online or sent by post, and "You cannot send supporting information by email." Examples of what people may include:

  • Your diagnostic report: mygov.scot says supporting information can "describe the impact the conditions or disability have on your life", so a report that describes day-to-day impact may be more informative than one that only confirms a diagnosis.
  • A letter from your GP: confirming your diagnosis, any associated difficulties, and medication or related conditions.
  • Letters from other professionals: mygov.scot lists examples such as medication or prescription lists, test results and social work reports, and refers to a "professional who knows about your needs".
  • Your own account: in part 2 of the application you are asked about "your condition and how it affects your ability to look after yourself, understand information, and communicate". Describe a typical day and a difficult day honestly.
  • Information from someone who knows you well: mygov.scot gives the examples of a "partner, friend, family member, neighbour who helps with your care, professional who knows about your needs".

How to apply

You can apply online, by phone, or on paper.

Online: Start your application at mygov.scot/adult-disability-payment/how-to-apply. The application is in two parts, Part 1 must be submitted within 14 days of starting, and Part 2 within 56 days. You can save as you go. Extensions are available if you need more time.

By phone: Call 0800 182 2222, Monday to Friday 8am–5pm. The call is free. You can complete Part 1 verbally and will be sent a paper form for Part 2.

BSL users: Video call support is available through Contact Scotland BSL.

  ## Tips for describing your needs honestly

It can help to avoid describing only how you manage on a good day. ADHD and autism can involve variability: you may be able to do something one day and not another.

The regulations (Disability Assistance for Working Age People (Scotland) Regulations 2022, regulation 10) say that where one descriptor is "satisfied on over 50% of the days of the required period", that descriptor applies (regulation 10(1)(a)). If your ability varies, describe the full range.

Regulation 7 says your ability to carry out an activity is determined on the basis of whether you can do it:

  • safely, meaning "in a manner unlikely to cause harm to the individual or to another person"
  • to an acceptable standard
  • repeatedly, meaning "as often as the activity is reasonably required to be completed"
  • within a reasonable time period, meaning "no more than twice as long as the maximum period" that someone without a limiting condition would normally take

Regulation 7 also takes account of any aid or appliance you normally use. If any of these apply to you, that is relevant to include.

What happens after you apply

Social Security Scotland will review your application. mygov.scot says they may invite you to a consultation "if it's the only way to get the information they need", which "can be by phone, by video call, at a local public venue, in your own home". It also says "A consultation is not a diagnosis or medical examination of your condition."

You will receive a formal letter called a notice of determination explaining the decision, which rate (if any) you have been awarded, and the points scored for each of the 12 activities. The letter must also include information about how to challenge the decision if you disagree.

Terminal illness cases are prioritised and Social Security Scotland aims to decide in around 7 working days.

If your application is refused or lower than expected

A decision is not necessarily final. mygov.scot describes a two-stage process.

Re-determination: "A new team at Social Security Scotland ... makes a full new decision on the benefit you applied for". This "could mean your payment goes up, down or stays the same." For Adult Disability Payment you have 42 calendar days (6 weeks) to request one.

Appeal: If you do not agree with your re-determination decision, you can make an appeal to the First-tier Tribunal. mygov.scot says "If you apply for an appeal without a previous re-determination request, your request for an appeal will not be accepted."

mygov.scot says you can get help from "groups such as Citizens Advice Scotland or Advocacy.scot", and can call Social Security Scotland free on 0800 182 2222 for help requesting a re-determination or appeal.

More information: mygov.scot/adult-disability-payment/decision

Useful links

ADHD Scot is an independent, non-clinical information project. Nothing here is benefits advice. Rates and eligibility criteria are sourced from mygov.scot and were checked on 20 October 2026; always check mygov.scot for the most current figures. For help with your ADP application or appeal, contact Citizens Advice Scotland or another independent adviser.