Adult Disability Payment: Independent Review - interim report

What is Adult Disability Payment?

Adult Disability Payment launched nationally on 29 August 2022 to new applicants and is one of fifteen payments that Social Security Scotland delivers.

Adult Disability Payment has replaced Personal Independence Payment (PIP) for disabled people of working age in Scotland, which is administered by the UK Government's Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Adult Disability Payment is a form of social security benefit provided by Social Security Scotland to support disabled adults. It is designed to help cover the extra costs that disabled people may incur due to their condition.

As of 31 July 2024, 315,495 people are receiving Adult Disability Payment^[2], just under 6% of Scotland’s population^[3]. Most of the people receiving the payment have had their payments transferred across from Personal Independence Payment or Disability Living Allowance (199,460 people or 63%) and the remainder are new applicants (115,035 people or 37%).

At the same time, 251,815 people had submitted the first part of the application for Adult Disability Payment and 213,265 people had submitted the second part of the application. Social Security Scotland has processed 216,960 applications with 50% being approved, 45% being denied and 5% withdrawn.

The total value of all Adult Disability Payments made to 31 July 2024 is £1.6 billion. The monthly value of payments issued has been increasing since the benefit launched, rising from £12,390 in April 2022 to a peak of £182.4 million in July 2024.

The key features of Adult Disability Payment include:

Eligibility: Adult Disability Payment is available to adults between 16 and state pension age applying for the first time who have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability. The condition must have lasted, or be expected to last, at least 12 months. People who have been awarded Adult Disability Payment before state pension age can continue to be entitled to it after reaching state pension age.

Components: Like Personal Independence Payment, Adult Disability Payment has two components:

• Daily Living Component: This helps with extra costs associated with everyday activities such as dressing, eating, and personal care.
• Mobility Component: This helps with extra costs associated with moving around and getting out and about.

Decision-making Process: The decision-making process for Adult Disability Payment focuses on understanding the impact of a person’s condition on their daily life and mobility. The Scottish Government aims to make the decision-making process more person-centred, reducing stress and ensuring that individuals are treated with dignity and respect.

Rates: Both the daily living and mobility components have two rates – a standard rate and an enhanced rate, depending on the severity of the impact of the disability or condition.

Application Process: The application process for Adult Disability Payment is designed to be straightforward, with support available to applicants through various channels and at different points on the client journey. Supporting Information can be obtained on behalf of the client by Social Security Scotland.