How to apply for Adult Disability Payment

You'll apply for Adult Disability Payment in 2 parts. This is unless you're applying for someone who is terminally ill, in which case there is only one part to make the process faster.

You can choose to complete your application either online, or by phone and paper.

Online

To apply online:

1. start your online application through myaccount
2. submit part 1 within 14 days (2 weeks)
3. submit part 2 within 56 days (8 weeks) - you can ask for more time if you need it

Apply online

Help to apply online

If you have not used myaccount before, you'll need to:

• register with a user name and password
• give some personal details

You can save your application as you go if you want to come back to it and complete it when it suits you.

You can only have one online application open at a time.

If you do not submit part 2 of your application within 8 weeks Social Security Scotland will:

• assume you do not plan to complete your application
• delete your application after 90 days from the date you started to protect your personal data

You can contact Social Security Scotland and ask for more time to complete part 2 if you need it. You do not have to give a reason.

Phone and paper

To apply by phone and paper:

1. phone Social Security Scotland free on 0800 182 2222 (8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday) to start an application
2. give your details so they can complete part 1 of the application for you over the phone
3. Social Security Scotland will send you a paper application form and a return envelope
4. complete and return the form within 8 weeks - you can ask for more time if you need it

If you're applying for someone who is terminally ill, you can complete the whole application over the phone.

If you're a British Sign Language user, you can use the Contact Scotland service to contact Social Security Scotland. 

If you applied for PIP but should have applied for Adult Disability Payment

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will send your Personal Independence Payment (PIP) application to Social Security Scotland.

Social Security Scotland will:

• use it as an application for Adult Disability Payment
• make a decision about your application

You'll get your payments from the date you applied for Personal Independence Payment (PIP), if your application is successful.

You do not need to complete a separate Adult Disability Payment application.

If you apply for Adult Disability Payment using a PIP application

If you send a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) application to Social Security Scotland, they'll use it as an application for Adult Disability Payment.

You do not need to complete a separate Adult Disability Payment application.

If you get PIP or DLA for adults and you apply for Adult Disability Payment 

You do not need to make a new application for Adult Disability Payment if you already get Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for adults from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). 

Social Security Scotland will move your benefit to Adult Disability Payment without you having to do anything. 

You cannot get PIP or DLA for adults and Adult Disability Payment at the same time.

If you do make a new application for Adult Disability Payment and Social Security Scotland have started to move your benefit then they’ll: 

• accept Part 1 of the new application as a valid application for Adult Disability Payment
• make a determination using Part 1 of the new application only 

A ‘determination’ is the legal term for the decision Social Security Scotland makes about your Adult Disability Payment.

Once they have made the determination on your new application, Social Security Scotland will then continue with the process of moving your benefit to Adult Disability Payment. 

Until the move happens, you’ll continue to get PIP or DLA for adults from the DWP. 

Find out more about how your benefit is moving to Social Security Scotland.