Adult Disability Payment
You may be able to claim Adult Disability Payment (ADP) if you're in Scotland, and you need extra help with day-to-day activities or have trouble getting around due to your health or condition.
On this page
- What is Adult Disability Payment (ADP)?
- The ADP components
- Do I qualify?
- How much will I get?
- How is ADP paid?
- How do I claim?
- What happens after I claim?
- If you're not happy with the decision
- What if my condition gets worse in the future?
- Does ADP affect other benefits?
- What if I go into a hospital or care home?
- Download this information as a PDF
- Get more support from our helpline
What is Adult Disability Payment (ADP)?
If you live in Scotland and you need extra help with day-to-day activities or have trouble getting around due to a disability or illness, you may be able to claim ADP. New claimants need to be under State Pension age.
ADP has replaced Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in Scotland. Payment levels and criteria are the same. The main difference between ADP and PIP is how claims are made and assessed.
If you were on PIP and live in Scotland, you should have already been transferred to ADP, and be receiving the same amount as you did on PIP.
To qualify for ADP, you have to have had problems looking after yourself or with your mobility for at least 13 weeks and expect your problems to last another 39 weeks.
ADP is for you, not for a carer (if you have one), and you don't need to have someone supporting or caring for you to qualify. If you're awarded ADP, it’s up to you how you use it.
ADP isn't taxable and you don't need to have paid National Insurance contributions to get it either. You can claim ADP whether you're in or out of work.
ADP isn't means-tested. So it's not affected by your earnings, other benefits you receive, or by any savings you have.
Getting ADP may increase the amount of any means-tested benefits you receive, such as Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction or income-related Employment and Support Allowance.
What if I'm in England, Wales or Northern Ireland?
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is the equivalent benefit to ADP in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Read our information about PIP.
The ADP components
ADP has 2 parts – a 'daily living component' and a 'mobility component'. You can get either component or both together, depending on your needs.
- The daily living component helps cover extra costs so you can carry out your daily living activities.
- The mobility component helps cover the extra costs you may face if you have difficulties getting around.
Both are paid at 2 different rates – a standard rate and an enhanced rate.
The rate you're paid depends on whether your ability to carry out daily living or mobility activities is limited or severely limited. This is tested under the ADP assessment (see below).
If you qualify for the enhanced rate of the mobility component, you may be able to join the Motability scheme. This lets you use the enhanced rate to get a new car, powered wheelchair or scooter.
You'll also automatically qualify for the Blue Badge scheme, which allows people with mobility problems to park closer to places, services or facilities you may want to visit or use.
Find out more about the Motability and Blue Badge schemes on our Help with getting around page.
Do I qualify?
To qualify for ADP you must meet the following basic conditions:
- If you're making a new claim for ADP you must be 16 or over and under State Pension age. You can check your State Pension age on the GOV.UK website.
- You must meet the disability conditions. These look at your daily living needs and your mobility needs. Social Security Scotland uses the ADP assessment for this (see below).
- You must have met the disability conditions for at least 3 months before you can get ADP. You won't have to wait a further 3 months for payment if you've already met the conditions for 3 months or more before making the claim.
- You must also be likely to continue to meet the disability conditions for 9 months in the future.
You won't be able to make a new claim for ADP if you've reached State Pension age, but you'll be able to stay on ADP if you claimed it for the first time before you reached State Pension age.
If you've reached State Pension age and have care or supervision needs, you may be able to claim Pension Age Disability Payment, the new benefit replacing Attendance Allowance in Scotland. See our information on Pension Age Disability Payment.
If you're terminally ill, the 3 and 9-month rules don't apply. Instead, you'll automatically receive the enhanced rate for both daily living and mobility (see below) with no assessment.
To confirm terminal illness, a medical professional must agree that "the individual has a progressive disease that can reasonably be expected to cause the individual's death".
ADP can be backdated up to 26 weeks if the medical professional confirms you've been terminally ill for this time.
The ADP assessment
The ADP assessment is a test of your ability to take part in everyday life. The criteria are based on your inability to perform different activities relating to certain daily living needs and your mobility. You're given points depending on your difficulties.
The number of points you score will determine whether or not you're entitled to either component of ADP and, if you are, at which rate.
Social Security Scotland will assess you for ADP by asking you to fill out the 'How your disability affects you' form.
The daily living activities
Your ability to carry out daily living activities is assessed by looking at 10 types of activity. These are:
- preparing food
- taking nutrition (eating and drinking)
- managing therapy or monitoring a health condition
- washing and bathing
- managing toilet needs or incontinence
- dressing and undressing
- communicating verbally
- reading and understanding signs, symbols and words
- engaging with other people face-to-face
- making budgeting decisions.
The mobility activities
Your ability to carry out mobility activities is assessed by looking at 2 types of activity:
- planning and following journeys
- moving around.
Scoring points
Each of the activity headings above have a series of 'descriptors', with scores ranging from 0 to 12 points. The descriptors describe related tasks of various levels of difficulty and the different types of help you need to complete each task.
You score points for the descriptor that best describes the level at which you can complete the task safely, to an acceptable standard, repeatedly and in a reasonable amount of time.
The highest descriptor scores from each activity heading are added together to work out your points for each component.
To be entitled to the standard rate of the daily living component, you need to score at least 8 points under the 10 daily living activity headings. To be entitled to the enhanced rate, you need to score at least 12 points.
Likewise, to be entitled to the standard rate of the mobility component, you need to score at least 8 points under the 2 mobility activity headings. For the enhanced rate, you need to score at least 12 points.
What if my condition fluctuates?
A descriptor will apply to you if you're unable to complete a task on the majority (more than half) of days. This will be considered over a 12-month period, looking back 3 months and forward 9 months.
Where you meet 1 descriptor on over half the days in that period, that descriptor will apply. Where 2 or more descriptors are satisfied on over half the days, the descriptor that scores the highest number of points will apply.
If you're not sure which descriptors apply to you, keeping a diary over a week may help you describe your problems.
Activity 1: Preparing food
A. Can prepare and cook a simple meal unaided. Score 0
B. Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to either prepare or cook a simple meal. Score 2
C. Cannot cook a simple meal using a conventional cooker but is able to do so using a microwave. Score 2
D. Needs prompting to be able to either prepare or cook a simple meal. Score 2
E. Needs supervision or assistance to either prepare or cook a simple meal. Score 4
F. Cannot prepare and cook food. Score 8
Activity 2: Taking nutrition
A. Can take nutrition unaided. Score 0
B. Needs (i) to use an aid or appliance to be able to take nutrition, or (ii) supervision to be able to take nutrition, or (iii) assistance to be able to cut up food. Score 2
C. Needs a therapeutic source to be able to take nutrition. Score 2
D. Needs prompting to be able to take nutrition. Score 4
E. Needs assistance to be able to manage a therapeutic source to take nutrition. Score 6
F. Cannot convey food and drink to their mouth and needs another person to do so. Score 10
Activity 3: Managing therapy or monitoring a health condition
A. Either (i) does not receive medication or therapy or need to monitor a health condition, or (ii) can manage medication or therapy or monitor a health condition unaided. Score 0
B. Needs any one or more of the following: (i) to use an aid or appliance to be able to manage medication (ii) supervision, prompting or assistance to be able to manage medication (iii) supervision, prompting or assistance to be able to monitor a health condition. Score 1
C. Needs supervision, prompting or assistance to be able to manage therapy that takes no more than 3.5 hours a week. Score 2
D. Needs supervision, prompting or assistance to be able to manage therapy that takes more than 3.5 but no more than seven hours a week. Score 4
E. Needs supervision, prompting or assistance to be able to manage therapy that takes more than seven but no more than 14 hours a week. Score 6
F. Needs supervision, prompting or assistance to be able to manage therapy that takes more than 14 hours a week. Score 8
Activity 4: Washing and bathing
A. Can wash and bathe unaided. Score 0
B. Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to wash or bathe. Score 2
C. Needs supervision or prompting to be able to wash or bathe. Score 2
D. Needs assistance to be able to wash either their hair or body below the waist. Score 2
E. Needs assistance to be able to get in or out of a bath or shower. Score 3
F. Needs assistance to be able to wash their body between the shoulders and waist. Score 4
G. Cannot wash and bathe at all and needs another person to wash their entire body. Score 8
Activity 5: Managing toilet needs or incontinence
A. Can manage toilet needs or incontinence unaided. Score 0
B. Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to manage toilet needs or incontinence. Score 2
C. Needs supervision or prompting to be able to manage toilet needs. Score 2
D. Needs assistance to be able to manage toilet needs. Score 4
E. Needs assistance to be able to manage incontinence of either bladder or bowel. Score 6
F. Needs assistance to be able to manage incontinence of both bladder and bowel. Score 8
Activity 6: Dressing and undressing
A. Can dress and undress unaided. Score 0
B. Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to dress or undress. Score 2
C. Needs either (i) prompting to be able to dress, undress or determine appropriate circumstances for remaining clothed, or (ii) prompting or assistance to be able to select appropriate clothing. Score 2
D. Needs assistance to be able to dress or undress their lower body. Score 2
E. Needs assistance to be able to dress or undress their upper body. Score 4
F. Cannot dress or undress at all. Score 8
Activity 7: Communicating verbally
A. Can express and understand verbal information unaided. Score 0
B. Needs to use an aid or appliance to be able to speak or hear. Score 2
C. Needs communication support to be able to express or understand complex verbal information. Score 4
D. Needs communication support to be able to express or understand basic verbal information. Score 8
E. Cannot express or understand verbal information at all even with communication support. Score 12
Activity 8: Reading and understanding signs, symbols and words
A. Can read and understand basic and complex written information either unaided or using spectacles or contact lenses. Score 0
B. Needs to use an aid or appliance, other than spectacles or contact lenses, to be able to read or understand either basic or complex written information. Score 2
C. Needs prompting to be able to read or understand complex written information. Score 2
D. Needs prompting to be able to read or understand basic written information. Score 4
E. Cannot read or understand signs, symbols or words at all. Score 8
Activity 9: Engaging with other people face-to-face
A. Can engage with other people unaided. Score 0
B. Needs prompting to be able to engage with other people. Score 2
C. Needs social support to be able to engage with other people. Score 4
D. Cannot engage with other people due to such engagement causing either (i) overwhelming psychological distress to the claimant, or (ii) the claimant to exhibit behaviour which would result in a substantial risk of harm to the claimant or another person. Score 8
Activity 10: Making budgeting decisions
A. Can manage complex budgeting decisions unaided. Score 0
B. Needs prompting or assistance to be able to make complex budgeting decisions. Score 2
C. Needs prompting or assistance to be able to make simple budgeting decisions. Score 4
D. Cannot make any budgeting decisions at all. Score 6
Activity 11: Planning and following journeys
A. Can plan and follow the route of a journey unaided. Score 0
B. Needs prompting to be able to undertake any journey to avoid overwhelming psychological distress to the claimant. Score 4
C. Cannot plan the route of a journey. Score 8
D. Cannot follow the route of an unfamiliar journey without another person, assistance dog or orientation aid. Score 10
E. Cannot undertake any journey because it would cause overwhelming psychological distress to the claimant. Score 10
F. Cannot follow the route of a familiar journey without another person, an assistance dog or an orientation aid. Score 12
Activity 12: Moving around
A. Can stand and then move more than 200 metres, either aided or unaided. Score 0
B. Can stand and then move more than 50 metres but no more than 200 metres, either aided or unaided. Score 4
C. Can stand and then move unaided more than 20 metres but no more than 50 metres. Score 8
D. Can stand and then move using an aid or appliance more than 20 metres but no more than 50 metres. Score 10
E. Can stand and then move more than one metre but no more than 20 metres, either aided or unaided. Score 12
F. Cannot, either aided or unaided, (i) stand, or (ii) move more than one metre. Score 12
How much will I get?
Each component of ADP has 2 rates: a standard rate and an enhanced rate. The rate you receive depends on how many points you score in the ADP assessment (see above).
The rates per week for the daily living component are:
- Standard rate £73.90
- Enhanced rate £110.40
The rates per week for the mobility component are:
- Standard rate £29.20
- Enhanced rate £77.05
How is ADP paid?
It's normally paid every 4 weeks into a bank, building society or Credit Union card account.
How do I claim?
You can make a claim online through Social Security Scotland's myaccount system.
You can also start your ADP claim by calling Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222 (8am-5pm Monday to Friday). You can apply on the phone or ask for a paper application form.
If you decide to start your claim on the phone you'll need to provide details including your personal and contact details, National Insurance number and details of your bank or building society (for payment purposes).
It will help if you have this information ready when you make the call.
What happens after I claim?
If you meet the basic qualifying conditions (see previous section 'Do I qualify?'), you'll be sent a form to complete called 'How your disability affects you'.
You'll have 8 weeks to complete the form (you can ask for an extension if you need to).
Filling in the 'How your disability affects you' form
This form gives you the chance to describe how your Parkinson's affects your daily life. Make sure to carefully read through how the points system for ADP works (above), and have a look through the form before filling it in.
We've also put together some questions to think about, and some example answers below you may be able to use.
You may want to write in pencil first, or make some notes on separate sheets of paper, before filling in the form in pen.
If you have difficulty writing and don't have someone who could help fill in the form for you, contact the Parkinson's UK helpline for support - we're here for you.
The form will first ask for details of the professionals who are best placed to give information on how your disability or health condition affects you.
These can include social workers and support workers, as well as medical professionals such as your GP. It's a good idea to put details of the professionals who know your problems best, like your Parkinson's nurse.
Whoever you put down, contact them and let them know that you're applying for ADP and have included their contact details on the form. Make it clear that you give permission for them to discuss your condition, as this will help to speed up the process.
Most of the form is made up of questions about your day-to-day life, relating to the points-based ADP assessment. You get points for what you can't manage, not for what you can. It's important to be clear about your difficulties, so you're assessed accurately.
Give yourself plenty of time to complete the form – you don't have to do it all in 1 sitting.
When thinking about which descriptor should apply to you, ask yourself the following questions:
- Would you have problems with this sort of task at some point in the day?
- Do you need help to complete the task? If so, what kind of help do you need? Does someone need to physically help you, reassure you, encourage you, remind you or explain to you how to do something? Or do they need to supervise or watch over you?
- Do you use aids or appliances to help you with a task? If so, say what they are and how useful they are.
- Can you do some parts of the task but not others?
- Are you unable to do the task at all? Explain why.
- Can you do a task but it takes you at least twice as long as it should?
- Can you do this task as often as you need to throughout the day?
- Do your needs change? Explain in what way and how often. Describe your good and bad days or how your needs vary throughout the day.
- Do you regularly have accidents (such as falls) or are you at risk of having accidents if attempting the task alone?
- Do you have any side effects from doing the task?
- Do you experience pain, breathlessness, tiredness or stress and anxiety either before, during or after the task?
For some of these points, it might help to keep a diary of your needs.
Below are some examples of answers you could give on the form. These are intended as a guide only. Parkinson's affects everyone differently, so before writing your answers, think carefully about how your condition affects you from day to day.
Daily living activities
Preparing food
Some people with Parkinson's may have problems with their grip, such as holding a hot pan. You may need a perching stool or have other issues with balance around the kitchen.
You may also need to use pre-chopped or prepared food, or need to have someone there to help or supervise in case of accidents, or to prompt if you have memory problems.
Example response:
"Because of my tremor I don't feel confident handling pans full of food or hot water. I cannot grip utensils properly, and don't have the muscle control to be able to cut or chop food.
"I also have balance problems, so standing in the kitchen for any period of time is difficult. This is why I need supervision or assistance to be able to prepare and cook a simple meal."
Taking nutrition
Some people with Parkinson's will need help to eat food or drink because of swallowing problems, which can cause choking. You may also need prompting because of memory problems.
In some cases, people are able to eat their food and drink liquids unsupervised, but you might need some help with preparation, such as cutting up food.
Example response:
"I have problems eating because I have swallowing problems and I have a hand tremor. This causes a fear of choking, so I don't eat unless I have help, which has led to weight loss.
"I use various aids to help me eat and often need help to cut up food, as I find it difficult to grip cutlery."
Managing therapy or monitoring a health condition
Some people with Parkinson's need to take lots of medication, for which you may need a pill box or a pill timer.
A special diet can be seen as therapy. Some people may be on apomorphine injections or infusions. You may need physiotherapy, which can count towards the total number of hours of therapy needed each week.
Example response:
"I need apomorphine injections, which I take between doses of my usual medication. I can't do this myself so my partner has been trained how to do it.
"My partner also administers my ready-to-use injection pen that works within 10 minutes and is often used as a 'rescue' measure, usually when I have a sudden, unpredictable 'off' period. Because of this, I need constant, 24-hour supervision to manage my Parkinson's.”
Washing and bathing
Many people with Parkinson's are likely to need assistance getting in and out of a bath or shower. You may also need some form of adaptation, for example a shower seat, walk-in shower, or grab handles by the bath. Some people have difficulties washing their body.
Example response:
"I have very limited mobility and spend most of the day in a wheelchair. I need two carers to visit me twice a day – one in the morning and one in the evening. I need the evening carer to help me get in and out of the bath as I struggle to safely stand."
Managing toilet needs or incontinence
Some people with Parkinson's will develop incontinence problems, or have difficulties reaching the toilet in time, possibly due to mobility or dexterity issues.
Many people with Parkinson's may need to use continence pads, or need someone to prompt, supervise or assist them in going to the toilet.
Example response:
"I have a lot of difficulty with bladder and bowel problems. I have to visit the toilet several times during the night. This can be incredibly difficult, because sometimes I can't move quickly enough to get to the toilet on time. I have an 'accident' at least once a week, and need help cleaning myself afterwards.
"I need to keep a hand-held urinal next to my bed. I also experience terrible constipation. I have a raised toilet seat because of my mobility problems. It is difficult to get down on to the toilet and to get up again."
Dressing and undressing
Some people with Parkinson's have problems with dexterity and fine finger movements, such as tying laces or doing up buttons. Some people use adapted clothing.
You may have balance problems or pain with dressing and undressing, including issues such as putting on shoes.
Example response:
"I need a lot of help getting dressed. My body is always very rigid in the mornings and until my medication kicks in, moving is very difficult.
"Dexterity is a huge problem and I have great difficulty with fine finger movements – tying laces or doing up buttons is sometimes impossible.
"Due to rigidity and stiffness, bending down is a daily problem, so I need help putting on shoes and socks. It takes about 3 times as long to get dressed as it did before I had Parkinson's."
Communicating verbally
Some people with Parkinson's have problems with hearing and use a hearing aid. Others need a communication aid for their voice.
Example response:
"I find verbal communication very difficult. My voice is very quiet and sometimes my speech is slurred.
"I also find it hard to begin speaking and experience slowness of thought, so following fast-changing topics, interrupting conversations or even giving answers to simple questions can be very challenging. I often end up giving minimal responses, which leaves me feeling isolated and frustrated."
Reading and understanding signs, symbols and words
Some people with Parkinson's have problems with memory and understanding, including slowness of thought, recalling memories or making decisions.
Example response:
"Because of memory problems I have severe problems with attention and concentration. I also get very fatigued, so I need a lot of help and support to be able to read or understand newspaper or magazine articles or instructions for how to use household appliances."
Engaging other people face-to-face
Some people with Parkinson's may get extremely anxious or distressed meeting people and may need constant support to engage. This may be due to cognitive issues such as dementia.
Example response:
"Anxiety is a symptom of Parkinson's and I experience this often, especially when in crowds of people, causing overwhelming distress. I often 'freeze'. This makes my anxiety a lot worse, so social situations are difficult for me, sometimes causing overwhelming distress.
"I have difficulty making facial expressions because of rigid facial muscles. This makes it difficult to express my emotions, and I am often misunderstood. This causes a barrier and distress, so I need support from my husband."
Mobility activities
Planning and following journeys
Some people with Parkinson's will get extremely anxious or distressed when going out and need someone to accompany them – especially on an unfamiliar journey.
You may also avoid going out because of the fear of freezing (where you suddenly cannot move) or falling. You may have visual problems due to Parkinson's and feel unsafe getting out and about without help.
Example response:
"I can't follow the route of an unfamiliar journey without my carer. I easily get confused, and being in unfamiliar situations or places causes stress, which makes my symptoms worse. I also freeze and often fall, so I am afraid to go out by myself."
Moving around
Most people with Parkinson's experience problems with movement. You may not be able to physically move, or may feel so fatigued by doing so that you need to stabilise yourself by leaning on furniture.
Some people may feel so nauseous, exhausted and 'switched off' that they have to often lie down.
If you receive 8 points or more on this activity, you may automatically qualify for a Blue Badge.
When completing this part of the form, don't make guesses. If you're not sure how far you can walk before feeling severe discomfort, go outside on an average day and test yourself (if your condition varies, don't choose a good day to do the test).
Find a safe location on level ground. Walk until you feel that you're unable to continue (if it's safe for you to do so). Remember you'll need to return to your starting point.
Record what happens and when, in terms of distance and time (you may find it helpful to have someone with you to record both of these). Include factors such as pain, dizziness, co-ordination difficulties, stumbles and tiredness. Note how long it takes you to recover before you feel able to walk again. Write down your findings on the form.
Example response:
"On most days, I can stand and walk using a Zimmer frame and manage between 10 and 20 metres. I get fatigued very easily, and so need a recovery time after walking this distance (usually around 10 minutes).
"My condition fluctuates from day to day, and sometimes I can't manage to walk at all. I fall often if I don't use my Zimmer frame, and my balance is badly affected."
Before you send off the form
If you can, attach photocopies of any additional evidence that you have to the form. Anything that helps an assessor understand how your condition impacts your day-to-day life is useful. For example, you could include copies of:
- prescriptions
- care and support plans
- information from professionals such as your specialist, Parkinson's nurse, occupational therapist, physiotherapist, social worker, support worker or counsellor.
if you keep a diary of how your condition affects you, it may be helpful to include this.
Remember to return your completed form within the 8-week time limit, or ask for an extension if you need one.
Make a copy of the form once you've completed it, along with any supporting evidence you're sending with the form. Keep this safe, just in case your form is lost in the post and so you can refer back to it.
How your claim is assessed
Social Security Scotland makes decisions about ADP without the need for a face to-face consultation (unlike Personal Independence Payment).
Instead, they'll focus on the information in your claim for, together with information from the medical, social care and related professionals who support you. Social Security Scotland will ask them for supporting information that indicates you meet the criteria.
If you're not happy with the decision
If you aren't awarded ADP, you have 6 weeks to ask Social Security Scotland to reconsider, by asking for a 'redetermination'.
You can also ask for the decision to be looked at again if you're unhappy with the level of the benefit you've been awarded or the period of time for which it's been awarded. If you have any questions about this, contact the Parkinson’s UK helpline.
How to ask for a redetermination
You can ask for your redetermination on the phone (0800 182 222) (text relay 18001 0300 2444 000), or call the number and ask them to send you a paper form. Social Security Scotland can help you complete your application.
Social Security Scotland will look at your request. They'll then either change the decision in your favour, or let you know that they're unable to change the decision.
How to appeal
If necessary, you'll then have 31 days from the date on your redetermination notice to appeal to an independent tribunal. You can appeal by calling Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222.
The appeal form will ask if you would like your appeal to be considered with or without a tribunal. Choosing and attending a tribunal can greatly improve your chances of a successful outcome.
The appeal will be considered by an independent appeal tribunal. These tribunals are informal – they're not like the courts. If you have a carer, they can attend as well to provide information they have about your needs.
You can contact the Parkinson's UK helpline or a local advice centre such as Citizens Advice to see if they can give you any support and possibly provide a representative to present your case at the hearing.
What if my condition gets worse in the future?
If you're awarded ADP and there's a change in your condition sometime in the future, you can ask for the award to be looked at again due to a change in your circumstances.
Always get in touch with Social Security Scotland immediately if you're receiving ADP and your circumstances change. They can't take into consideration any deterioration in your health before the time you contact them.
Be aware that Social Security Scotland will look at the whole award and they can take away the rate of ADP you've already been granted.
Before you do anything, make sure that you meet the conditions for the new component or the higher rate (see above).
You need to have satisfied the conditions for the new component or the higher rate for at least 3 months and expect it to last for at least 9 months more before your award can be increased.
If you're in any doubt, contact the Parkinson's UK helpline.
Does ADP affect other benefits?
ADP can be paid in addition to other benefits. It's not counted as income in the calculation of means-tested benefits.
ADP can increase how much you receive in Housing Benefit and from the Council Tax Reduction Scheme.
It can also increase the legacy benefits currently being replaced by Universal Credit. Universal Credit doesn't increase its payment based on an ADP award.
What if I go into hospital or a care home?
Hospital stays
You can make a claim for ADP if you're in hospital, but payment can only start once you leave. If you pay your own fees for the hospital without help from the council or health service, your ADP can continue to be paid.
If you're not paying the fees and already getting ADP when you go into hospital, payment will stop after a total of 4 weeks (either in 1 stay, or several stays where the gaps between stays are less than 4 weeks each time). It can restart when you return home, you won't have to make a new claim.
If you're under 18, your ADP can be paid for the whole time you're in hospital.
Care homes
If you pay your own fees for your care home without help from the council or health service, your ADP can continue to be paid.
If the council helps with your fees, the ADP daily living component will stop after 4 weeks. This can be in 1 stay, or several stays where the gaps between stays are no more than 4 weeks each time. It can restart if you return home.
The mobility component isn't affected even if the council helps with your fees.
If the health service pays for your nursing home, both the daily living and mobility components will usually stop after 4 weeks, but can restart when you return back home.
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Adult Disability Payment (PDF, 290KB)
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Last updated July 2025.
If you'd like to find out more about how we put our information together, including references and the sources of evidence we use, please contact us at [email protected]