Applying for Adult Disability Payment from Scottish Adult DLA

From 21 March 2025, all adults in Scotland still getting Disability Living Allowance (DLA) from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will automatically start having their awards moved to a new benefit called Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance (Scottish Adult DLA).

Social Security Scotland will send you a letter called ‘Your DLA is moving to Social Security Scotland’ to confirm when your benefit has started to move.

Choosing to apply for Adult Disability Payment

After your benefit move to Scottish Adult DLA is complete, you can choose to apply for Adult Disability Payment.

Scottish Adult DLA and Adult Disability Payment provide extra money to help you if you have a disability or long-term health condition that affects your everyday life. However, they have different eligibility criteria and payment rates so you could get more, less or no help with Adult Disability Payment.

Find out more about the payment rates and components for:

You cannot get Scottish Adult DLA and Adult Disability Payment at the same time.

You do not have to apply for Adult Disability Payment. You can remain on Scottish Adult DLA for as long as you are eligible.

If you’re thinking of applying for Adult Disability Payment, you should get independent advice before you apply. An independent adviser can help you make a decision that’s right for your circumstances.

Other help available

Contact Citizens Advice Scotland for independent support and advice. You can either:

call them free on 0808 028 1456
go to cas.org.uk
visit your local branch

Other organisations and services in your area might also be able to help you. Contact your local council to find out more.

Contact your local council

Get support from an independent advocate

If you need extra support with disability or carer benefits, contact Advocacy.Scot. They’re independent from Social Security Scotland.

An advocate will listen to you and try to understand your point of view and what you want to happen. They can help you apply for benefits and make decisions. You’ll still make any final decisions.

To contact Advocacy.Scot:

call them free on 0808 196 8901
visit their website at advocacy.scot
Email: support@advocacy.scot

You can also ask Social Security Scotland to refer you to Advocacy.Scot.

How to apply

You can apply for Adult Disability Payment online, by phone or via a paper application. Find out how to apply.

After you apply

Social Security Scotland will call you to explain the process of moving from Scottish Adult DLA to Adult Disability Payment.

When you confirm you want to proceed:

Social Security Scotland will replace your Scottish Adult DLA payments with an interim award of Adult Disability Payment
your interim award will be for exactly the same amounts as your Scottish Adult DLA and you’ll keep the same payment dates
there will be no gap in your payments
your interim award of Adult Disability Payment will continue until we finish reviewing your application
Social Security Scotland will send you another letter when they make a full decision on your Adult Disability Payment award and this decision will replace your interim award

When your interim Adult Disability Payment award begins, you cannot go back to Scottish Adult DLA.

Withdrawing your application

If you no longer want to apply for Adult Disability Payment, call Social Security Scotland for free and ask them to withdraw your application.

However, if Adult Disability Payment payments have started, you cannot go back to Scottish Adult DLA.

Your payments

Your award might increase after we make a full decision on your Adult Disability Payment application. If it does, we’ll backdate your payments to the day you:

submitted part 1 online or
completed part 1 over the phone

Social Security Scotland will pay any amount that’s due to you automatically. You do not need to do anything.

If your award decreases, it'll be from the day Social Security Scotland made a full decision on your Adult Disability Payment application.

Find out more information about when you get payments.

If you feel your interim Adult Disability Payment award decision was wrong

Your interim Adult Disability Payment award is based on your Scottish DLA award.

If you think your interim Adult Disability Payment is incorrect, you can:

ask for a re-determination
wait until Social Security Scotland reviews your Adult Disability Payment application and makes a full decision

You may want to wait for Social Security Scotland to review your Adult Disability Payment. If you make a re-determination request for your interim award you should be aware that you:

will not be any better off, but if you get a lower award, this will take affect earlier than it otherwise would have
cannot withdraw your re-determination request after you submit it
cannot ask for another re-determination once Social Security Scotland make a new decision

You should get independent advice before asking for a re-redetermination. This is because you may be better off financially if you wait for this review.

You have the right to appeal Social Security Scotland’s re-determination decision about your application for Adult Disability Payment.
Find out more if you disagree with a benefit decision.

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