Adult Disability Payment: Independent Review
Overview
Adult Disability Payment launched on 29 August 2022 and is one of fifteen payments that Social Security Scotland delivers. Adult Disability Payment has replaced Personal Independence Payment for disabled people of working age in Scotland.
The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice has appointed Edel Harris OBE to Chair an Independent Review of Adult Disability Payment. Work began on the independent review in February 2024 and the review will issue its final report in July 2025.
The independent review will consider people’s experiences of the first year of delivery of Adult Disability Payment, as well as the eligibility criteria. This builds upon the analysis of the consultation on the eligibility criteria for the mobility component of Adult Disability Payment, published in August 2023.
Remit and terms of reference
The independent review will look at:
- the activities and descriptors that determine entitlement to Adult Disability Payment, including how these apply to disabled people with fluctuating conditions
- people’s experiences of applying for, receiving or challenging a decision about Adult Disability Payment or undergoing a review (including unsuccessful applicants)
- consultations process and Adult Disability Payment-specific guidance for practitioners and decision-making guidance to ensure a rights-based model of social security is being applied
- considering initial priorities capable of early action that do not require changes to the application, decision-making or service delivery, where those changes offer value, are deliverable and useful regardless of any longer-term changes
The independent review will not look at:
- the purposes of Adult Disability Payment or the adequacy of payments
- wider aspects of disability assistance which have implications for other forms of disability assistance, such as supporting information, special rules for terminal illness, duration of awards and reviews
- alternative forms of mobility support, such as grants, reductions in the cost of mobility equipment and vehicles and associated costs
- alternative bodies to Social Security Scotland for delivering Adult Disability Payment
Taking part in the review
The independent review will take an inclusive and transparent approach to engaging with disabled people and stakeholders. There will be opportunities for people to contribute throughout the independent review.
Consultation and call for evidence
The independent review is running a consultation and a call for evidence. Anyone can respond to both, and all questions are optional.
Both will be open from 28 June 2024 to 23 August 2024. Easy Read, BSL and other translations of the consultation and call for evidence documents are also available. Consultation events will take place both online and in-person. You can sign up to attend events (please note that some events may be changed to online).
Once the consultation and call for evidence close, an independent analysis will help inform the Chair’s findings and final recommendations.
The consultation is mainly for people with lived and living experience of accessing – or trying to access – Adult Disability Payment. This includes disabled people, people with long-term health conditions and people with a terminal illness.
The call for evidence asks for views and available evidence from stakeholder organisations.
Newsletter
If you would like to sign-up for our newsletter, please email adpreview@gov.scot with your name and email address.
Review outcomes
An interim report identifying any initial priorities, which do not involve substantive changes to service design and are capable of early action, should be provided within nine months of the commencement of the review.
A final review report will be provided to the Scottish Government by July 2025 and will be published by the Government upon receipt. The report will include such recommendations as the Chair considers appropriate within the scope identified above.
Recommendations will consider and comment upon:
- the costs of any proposed changes associated with implementation and/or benefit expenditure
- the practicability, including technical development requirements, of implementation and priorities for delivery
- legislative changes that may be required
- the impact of any proposed changes on access to other forms of social security assistance controlled by the UK Government
Members
- Edel Harris OBE, Chair
An advisory group of 10 members has been convened to provide guidance, expertise, and scrutiny to the Chair to ensure the effectiveness, fairness, and integrity of the review.
The group will provide advice on the approach, methodology, engagement mechanisms and plans adopted by the review when conducting stakeholder engagement, as well as facilitating access to a wide range of audiences.
Edel chaired an introductory meeting of the Advisory Group on 26 April 2024 to discuss ways of working and priorities for outcomes of the Review. The Advisory Group will continue to meet throughout the review.
Minutes from the Advisory Group are published below.
Advisory group members:
- Steven McAvoy, ENABLE Scotland
- Craig Smith, SAMH (Scottish Action for Mental Health)
- Ellie Wagstaff, Marie Curie
- Lucy Mulvagh, The ALLIANCE
- Brian Robertson, Independent Member
- Keith Park, MS Society in Scotland
- Erica Young, Citizens Advice Scotland
- John Wallace, Independent Member
- Emily Mann, Independent Member
- Mhairi Campbell, Independent Member
Publications
Independent Review of Adult Disability Payment: terms of reference - easy read
There is a problem
Thanks for your feedback