Personal Independent Payment replacement in Scotland launched today

3 mins read

Monday 21 March 2022

Tags: scotland, benefits, personal independence payment, Adult Disability Payment, social security scotland

A new benefit in Scotland for disabled adults aged between 16 and pension credit qualifying age launches in Scotland today. This new benefit – called Adult Disability Payment – will replace Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in Scotland.

The new benefit will initially pilot in certain specific council areas before rolling out to the rest of Scotland on 29 August.

When can I make a new claim for Adult Disability Payment?

Initially, the Adult Disability Payment is only replacing new claims for PIP.

The date you can make a new claim for Adult Disability Payment will depend on where in Scotland you live:

  • From 21 March 2022 it will replace new claims in the areas of Dundee City, Perth and Kinross and Western Isles. If you live in one of these areas, you will not be able to make a new claim for PIP from 21 March, and instead you will need to complete a claim for the new Adult Disability Payment with Social Security Scotland.
  • From 20 June, it will extend to Angus, North Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire.
  • From 25 July, it will further extend to Fife, Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Moray, North Ayrshire, East Ayrshire and South Ayrshire.
  • And from 29 August, it will be rolled out to the rest of Scotland.

You can make an application for the new benefit online at mygov.scot or by calling free on 0800 182 2222. British Sign Language users can use video relay via the contactSCOTLAND BSL app.

What happens to existing PIP or DLA claimants?

Adults in Scotland who are already getting PIP or Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for adults won’t transfer onto the new Adult Disability Payment until later in the summer. This process is expected to happen in stages.

Once existing claimants start to transfer, this will happen automatically without the need for existing claimants to make an application for the new benefit.

How does Adult Disability Payment differ to PIP?

The new benefit’s eligibility criteria are very similar to PIP. But the way the benefit is assessed is expected to be different to PIP. Social Security Scotland plans to have much fewer face-to-face assessments. Social Security Scotland may still ask you to attend an assessment if it believes this is the only practical way to get the information it needs. But that assessment won’t be carried out by a private company.

Adult Disability Payment awards are also likely to be for longer periods. The Scottish Government recently confirmed that disabled people on the highest rates of the benefit, who have conditions unlikely to change, will receive indefinite awards of Adult Disability Payment. This means their award will not be subject to regular reviews.

Find out more

Read more about welfare benefits in Scotland or benefits across the UK (including Scotland).

You can also read about other financial support in Scotland.