Financial help if you have a disability or long-term illness

To get Adult Disability Payment you must meet the following conditions: –

• be living in Scotland
• be 16, or over, and under pension age when you apply
• not be getting DLA or PIP
• need help with your personal care because of their physical or mental disability or illness and/or
• need help when moving around because of your physical or mental disability or illness and
• have had your disability or illness for 13 weeks before you apply and be expected to have it for at least 39 weeks after.

You do not need to have a diagnosis but will have to provide evidence of how your disability or health condition affects you. If you have a progressive illness that will limit your life expectancy you do not need to have had the illness for 13 weeks before you can get Adult Disability Payment.

If you are already getting DLA or PIP you will be transferred to Adult Disability Payment without having to apply or be reassessed. You cannot choose to continue getting DLA or PIP but the amount of money you get when you transfer to Adult Disability Payment will remain the same.

You will receive a letter telling you that you are being transferred to Adult Disability Payment and another 13 – 17 weeks later saying the transfer is complete. You will continue to get DLA or PIP until you are transferred to Adult Disability Payment.

Those getting DLA or PIP with awards coming to an end, or who report a change of circumstances, will be transferred first. The transfer of everyone getting DLA or PIP to Adult Disability Payment is expected to be completed by summer 2024.

The amount you will get depends on the services, equipment and support you need.

There are 2 amounts called components. The daily living component is to help with the day-to-day help you need with things like dressing, washing and eating. The mobility component is to help with the extra help you need to physically get around and to stay safe when you are moving around.

Each component has 2 rates.

Daily living component:

• Enhanced rate £101.75
• Standard rate £68.10

Mobility component:

• Enhanced rate £71.00
• Standard rate £26.90

If you have a progressive, terminal, illness you will automatically get the highest rates of both the care and mobility components.

From April 24 the figures will be:

Daily living component:

• Enhanced rate £108.55
• Standard rate £72.65

Mobility component:

• Enhanced rate £75.75
• Standard rate £28.70

Adult Disability Payment is paid into your bank account every 4 weeks in arrears. If you have a life limiting condition you will get it weekly in advance.

The amount of Adult Disability Payment you receive is not affected by your income, savings or assets. It will not reduce any other benefits you get but you may get an increase in some benefits or be able to claim extra help. See more information.

You can apply for Adult Disability Payment online or by calling Social Security Scotland.

If you need support to apply you can ask a friend, family member or Social Security Scotland to help. Social Security Scotland can make an appointment for someone from a local delivery team to help you in person, by phone or by video. They can also arrange for someone to visit you in your own home.

Apply online at: How to apply

To apply by phone or to arrange an appointment for someone to help call:

Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222, 8am – 6pm, Mon – Fri.

The application is in two parts. You will first need to register and answer some general questions. You will then answer more specific questions about your disability or illness, how it affects your everyday life and what support you need. This can be difficult and take a bit of time, but it is important to be thorough as a decision maker will use this information to decide if and how much Adult Disability Payment you will get. Social Security Scotland, a welfare rights officer, a disability service or a medical professional will be able to help you with this. Contact your local council for an appointment with a welfare rights officer.

You do not have to answer all the questions at once. Your answers will be saved and you can go back to them later if you are applying online. You have 8 weeks to answer all the questions from the time you started your application.

If you have a life limiting medical condition you will not be asked as many questions when you apply but will need to provide a BASRiS form with details about your condition. Your doctor or another medical professional will be able to give you this form and help you complete it. Your doctor or someone else can also apply for Adult Disability Payment on your behalf.

You will receive regular updates on how your application is progressing. You may also be asked to get information from someone who knows you or the person looking at your application may contact them directly.

Awards of Adult Disability Payment do not have an end date, but you may be contacted from time to time for a reassessment. This will not be as in depth as the initial application. If you have a condition that is not expected to improve there will not be a reassessment for at least five years.

If there is any change in your disability or illness you need to report this to Social Security Scotland by phone or online.

If you are unhappy with the decision on your application for Adult Disability Payment you can ask for a ‘redetermination’. Say why you think the decision is wrong and give any further evidence you have to support this. You have 6 weeks from when you receive the decision to ask Social Security Scotland for a redetermination. Social security Scotland will get back to you within 8 weeks.

If you are not happy with the result of the redetermination you can appeal.

Details of how to ask for a redetermination, or to appeal, will be sent with your Adult Disability Payment decision letter. You can ask for help with this from Social Security Scotland, a Welfare Rights Officer from the council or a worker from your local Citizens Advice Bureau.

If you were getting Adult Disability Payment and it has stopped, or reduced, after a reassessment you can receive payments called Short Term Assistance while you are waiting on a decision about your redetermination or appeal. These are equal to the Adult Disability Payment you were getting before your reassessment. These payments do not have to be paid back.

To apply for Short Term Assistance contact Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222, 8am – 6pm, Mon – Fri.