How to claim Adult Disability Payment
How to start a claim for Adult Disability Payment
You can apply for Adult Disability Payment:
- online
- over the phone
- via post.
If you use British Sign Language (BSL), you can use the contactSCOTLAND app to contact Social Security Scotland to apply for Adult Disability Payment.
You can also request a translator in over 100 languages and a form in over 100 languages.
There are 2 parts to the application process. Part 1 is about your personal details. Part 2 is about your condition and how it affects your daily life. You can see the questions you’ll be asked when applying for Adult Disability Payment on the mygov.scot website.
If you have a terminal illness
The application process is different if you have a terminal illness. You only have to do 1 part of the application. This is to make the process faster, so that you receive your payments sooner.
Getting support with your application
You can get support with your application through the Local Delivery service. This is a free service provided by Social Security Scotland.
You can get support with your application, or ask any questions you may have about the application process.
You can access this service:
- in person, at your home or a place local to you
- over the phone
- over a video call.
To get support from the Local Delivery service, you need to contact Social Security Scotland and ask for an appointment. You can do this even if you have not submitted an application. There is information about how to contact Social Security Scotland on the mygov.scot website.
What do I need before I start a claim for Adult Disability Payment?
Part 1 of the Adult Disability Payment application asks about your personal details. You will need:
- your personal details, including your main address
- your National Insurance number
- your bank, building society or credit union account details
- details of any travel you have done outside the Common Travel Area in the last year.
Part 2 of the Adult Disability Payment application asks about your medical condition and how this affects your daily living. You will need:
- information about your condition, including any medication or treatment you are having
- information about any medical tests, and their results
- your GP’s contact details, or details of other healthcare professionals.
Supporting information
Supplying supporting information when you submit your application can mean that your application is processed quicker. Supporting information includes:
- social care assessments
- medical reports and letters
- prescription information
- medical test results.
You do not need to add supporting information to your application. Social Security Scotland can gather information on your behalf.
There is more information about supporting information for disability benefits on the mygov.scot website.
How to fill in an Adult Disability Payment claim
Filling out an online application
You will need to create an online account. Once you have set up your account you can log in at any time to check or update your claim.Once you start your application, you need to submit part 2 within 8 weeks, or your application will get deleted, and you will need to start again. You can ask for more time to complete your application if you need it.
Applying over the phone or video call
Call Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 22 22 to start your application. If you are a British Sign Language (BSL) user, you can use the contactSCOTLAND app to contact them by video.Social Security Scotland will ask for your personal details and complete part 1 of the application over the phone. They will then post you a paper application form to complete part 2. You will get a return envelope so that you can send it back.
If you're applying for someone who is terminally ill, you can complete the whole application over the phone.
You have 8 weeks to complete the form and return it. You can ask for more time if you need it.
If you would like to apply in another language, you can call Social Security Scotland and request an interpreter.
After you have applied for Adult Disability Payment
You may be contacted by Social Security Scotland if they need more information about your claim before a decision is made.
You will receive a letter about your application for Adult Disability Payment and the decision from Social Security Scotland on whether it was successful.
If you have a terminal illness, you should hear back within 7 working days of submitting your application.
The process can take longer than this for others.
If your application was successful, the letter will tell you how much Adult Disability Payment you will get.
If your application was not successful, the letter will tell you why. You can appeal the decision if you disagree with it. We have more information about this below.
About our information
Adult Disability Payment can vary depending on your individual circumstances. The information provided gives an overview of this benefit and should be used as a guideline. If you have any further questions or would like to discuss your personal circumstances further, and how they may impact a claim, then you can chat to a Macmillan Welfare Rights Adviser.
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References
Below is a sample of the sources used in our financial help and benefits information.
GOV.UK www.gov.uk (accessed August 2022).
mygov.scot www.mygov.scot (accessed August 2022)
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Reviewers
This information has been reviewed and approved by Macmillan’s Welfare Rights team.
Date reviewed
Our cancer information meets the PIF TICK quality mark.
This means it is easy to use, up-to-date and based on the latest evidence. Learn more about how we produce our information.