Adult Disability Payment Q&A

Disability Assistance in Scotland: Adult Disability Payment Policy Q&A

Q: What is Adult Disability Payment?

A: Adult Disability Payment is Scotland’s replacement for Personal Independence Payment (PIP). It is to help with the extra costs of being disabled or having a long term health condition.

Q: Who is Adult Disability Payment for?

A: Adult Disability Payment is for people in Scotland with a disability or long term health condition who are between 16 years old and state pension age.

Q: how much will I get for Adult Disability Payment?

A: You can get one or both components of Adult Disability Payment and either the standard or enhanced rate:

Daily living component

• Standard rate £60.00
• Enhanced rate £89.60

Mobility component

• Standard rate £23.70
• Enhanced rate £62.55

Q: When can I apply for Adult Disability Payment?

A: Depending on where you live, you will be able to apply on or after these dates:

• 21 March, if you live in Dundee City, Perth and Kinross or the Western Isles;
• 20 June, if you live in Angus, North Lanarkshire or South Lanarkshire;
• 25 July, if you live in Fife, Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Moray, North Ayrshire, East Ayrshire or South Ayrshire;
• 29 August, if you live elsewhere in Scotland.

Q: I get Personal Independence Payment (PIP), can I apply for Adult Disability Payment?

A: You do not need to apply for Adult Disability Payment if you currently get PIP. Social Security Scotland will begin to move PIP clients to Adult Disability Payment from summer 2022. They will send you a letter telling you what will happen when you transfer.

Q: I am a working age person who gets Disability Living Allowance (DLA), can I apply for Adult Disability Payment?

A: You do not need to apply for Adult Disability Payment if you currently get DLA. Social Security Scotland will begin to move DLA clients to Adult Disability Payment from summer 2022. They will send you a letter telling you what will happen when you transfer.

Q: I am over state pension age and get Personal Independence Payment (PIP), will I be moved on to Adult Disability Payment?

A: Yes, you will be moved over to Adult Disability Payment by Social Security Scotland. You will not need to re-apply and you will keep getting the same components and rates of Adult Disability Payment as PIP. They will send you a letter telling you what will happen when you transfer.

Q: Will I lose my mobility component of Adult Disability Payment or have to apply for Pension Age Disability Payment when I reach state pension age?

A: No, people on Adult Disability Payment before they reach state pension age will stay on it as long as they remain entitled to assistance.

Q: I have a job, can I get Adult Disability Payment?

A: Yes, whether you have a job or not is not taken into account for Adult Disability Payment.

Q: I have savings, can I get Adult Disability Payment?

A: Yes, Adult Disability Payment is not means tested. It does not matter whether you have savings or an income.

Q: I don’t have a diagnosis, can I get Adult Disability Payment?

A: Yes, if you have a disability or long term health condition you do not need to have a diagnoses to get Adult Disability Payment?

Q: I have a mental health condition, can I get Adult Disability Payment?

A: Yes, Adult Disability Payment is for people with physical, mental health, sensory, cognitive or learning disabilities or long term health conditions.

Q: I have only had my disability or health condition for a month, can I get Adult Disability Payment?

A: No, Adult Disability Payment is for people who have had their disability or health conditions for 13 weeks or more.

Q: Why do I need to have had my disability or health condition for 13 weeks or more?

A: People with short term disabilities or health conditions do not experience the same additional costs as people with long term disabilities or health conditions. 13 weeks is the length of time we use to tell the difference between short term and long term disabilities or health conditions.

Q: Why will you accept new applications before transferring people from Personal Independence Payment (PIP) to Adult Disability Payment?

A: We have been told by many disabled people that applying for disability benefits is the most stressful part of the process. So we wanted to begin by making changes to the application process for those disabled people who do not currently get financial help.

Q: Will I have to go for a private sector assessment to get Adult Disability Payment?

A: No, we have replaced controversial private sector face to face assessments with compassionate consultations.

Q: What is a consultation?

A: A consultation will be a compassionate conversation between a client and a health and social care practitioner focused on the client’s needs.

Q: Will everyone have a consultation?

A: No, you will only be invited to a consultation if it is the only way Social Security Scotland can get the information they need to make a decision about your application.

Q: Will all consultations be face to face?

A: No, most consultations will be by voice or video call. You will only be asked to attend a face to face consultation if it better meets your needs.

Q: If most of the Adult Disability Payment criteria are the same as Personal Independence Payment (PIP) how will it be different?

A: Adult Disability Payment has been designed with people who will use it. This will make sure we deliver an improved service that will be very different to the DWP’s system. For example:

• there will be a variety of ways to apply - online, by post, over the phone or face-to-face;
• Social Security Scotland will only need to collect one piece of formal supporting information when making a decision on an application, and the onus will be on Social Security Scotland to collect that on people’s behalf.
• Information from family, friends, unpaid carers etc. can give a very helpful insight into your daily life so equal consideration will be given to all sources of information.
• Improved guidance and training will lead to improved decision making. How you experience carrying out the activities will be taken into account, for example – whether it causes you pain or fatigue, or it puts you at risk of harm.

Q: Why are you not changing the rules on mobility to remove the ‘20 metre rule’?

A: We are first making changes that people have told us are most important, and those which will have a positive impact on as many people as possible.

In addition, we believe the changes we are making to how decisions are made will make sure all of the rules are fairly applied:

• The application of the rules will take full account of your needs. Including if you have a fluctuating condition or experience pain and fatigue;
• How you feel when you do an activity, like moving around or having a shower, will be taken into account. For example, feeling too depressed to make yourself something to eat, or feeling out of breath after getting dressed;
• If you have a consultation, the practitioner will have to discuss any observations they make with you and write down anything you want to say in response;
• We will not carry out functional examinations. DWP carry out examinations such as tests of flexibility and strength. These functional examinations do not meet our values of fairness, dignity and respect and they have particularly negative impacts on those with fluctuating conditions.

Q When will Adult Disability Payment be reviewed?

A: The review will be carried out in 2 stages:

• The first stage will begin this year and will focus on the ‘mobility rules, including the 20 metre rule. This will look at others ways to consider how a person’s mobility is affected by their disability or long term health condition;
• The second stage will focus on Adult Disability Payment as a whole and will begin in the summer of 2023 This is one year after the launch of Adult Disability Payment across Scotland meaning that people who have applied for the payment can share their experiences of doing so.