Adult Disability Payment: Independent Review - interim report

Next steps

Building on the initial findings from the Independent Review into Adult Disability Payment and the insights provided in the interim report, my focus for phase two will be to further develop and refine the delivery of Adult Disability Payment.

This next phase will be guided by a continued commitment to engagement with disabled people and those with lived experience of Adult Disability Payment. Their perspectives are critical to ensuring the system is fit for purpose and reflects the realities of their experiences.

Phase two will place particular emphasis on reviewing and improving the eligibility criteria. The aim is to ensure that the criteria are not only transparent and fair but also inclusive, ensuring that they reflect the diversity of disabled people’s circumstances and needs. We will continue to apply a human rights-based approach and uphold the social model of disability throughout this review, recognising that societal barriers, rather than impairments, are often the primary source of disadvantage for disabled individuals.

Engagement with stakeholders will remain central to our approach. We are committed to maintaining strong and ongoing dialogue with disabled individuals, campaigning organisations, advocacy groups, and other key partners. This engagement will help us ensure that the evolving Adult Disability Payment system and approach continues to meet the needs of disabled people in Scotland, while supporting the Scottish Government’s broader commitment to creating a more inclusive and equitable society.

I look forward to producing my final report in July 2025.