Who can apply for Adult Disability Payment

Adults with a disability, long term or terminal illness

You must be between 16 and State Pension age. Apply if you have a:

• disability
• long-term physical or mental health condition
• terminal illness

Apply even if you're waiting for a diagnosis.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

Do not apply if you get Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for adults. You would get these from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

You cannot get PIP and Adult Disability Payment at the same time. If you get PIP, do not apply for Adult Disability Payment.

Before 21 March 2025, your DLA may have started moving to Adult Disability Payment. If this applies to you, do not apply for Adult Disability Payment. Find out more if your DLA is already moving to Adult Disability Payment. 

After 21 March 2025, all adults in Scotland still getting DLA from DWP will move to Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance (Scottish Adult DLA). Find out more about DLA moving to Scottish Adult DLA.

Check before you apply

Before you apply, enter some basic information. Things like:

• where you live
• the benefits you get
• your age

You'll find out if any of this information makes Adult Disability Payment not suitable for you. Where possible, we'll tell you if there are other benefits you might want to apply for.

Check before you apply

Applying from outside of Scotland

You can apply for Adult Disability Payment if you:

• live in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Gibraltar 
• have spent a major part of your life in Scotland

Find out more about applying for benefits if you leave Scotland or travel abroad.

Child Disability Payment

You need to apply for Adult Disability Payment even if you get Child Disability Payment.

You can apply any time from when you are 15, soon to turn 16,  until your 18th birthday. If your application is successful,  you will not have any gaps between payments.

If you’re terminally ill, you do not need to apply to move to Adult Disability Payment. For advice on terminal illness and benefits, contact Social Security Scotland.

Find out more about moving from Child Disability Payment to Adult Disability Payment.