Scotland’s PIP replacement rolled out to seven more areas

Adult Disability Payment, which is replacing the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) disability benefit in Scotland, is now available in seven more areas ahead of the nationwide rollout on 29 August.

People in Aberdeenshire, City of Aberdeen, Fife, Moray, East Ayrshire, North Ayrshire, and South Ayrshire are now able to apply for Adult Disability Payment.

Adult Disability Payment is currently available in total of 13 council areas in Scotland. The payment was successfully introduced in Perth, Dundee and the Western Isles in March, followed by Angus, North Lanarkshire and South Lanarkshire in June.

The benefit provides financial support to people aged between 16 and state pension age who are disabled, have a long-term health condition, or have a terminal illness.

For people with reduced mobility or those who need help with everyday tasks, the disability benefit could be used to purchase essential assistive technologies, such as grab rails, walking aids, or bathing equipment. The financial support could also help cover the cost of a carer.

Minister for Social Security Ben Macpherson said: “We are taking a positive, responsible and compassionate approach to delivering disability benefits. This is in contrast to aspects of the current UK Government system. The Scottish Government is committed to treating people with dignity, fairness and respect and we start from a position of trust.

“Adult Disability Payment is an important financial support to provide security and help people live well. I would encourage anyone in Scotland who could be eligible to please check and apply. We want people to get support that they’re entitled to, because social security is a shared investment to help build a fairer and better society together.

“When people apply for our disability benefits, we are focused on making the right decisions first time to reduce the need for people to go through a redetermination or appeal. When Social Security Scotland is making a decision it will only need one formal piece of supporting information from a professional, such as a social care assessment, medical report or prescription list, and if required we will obtain that information for people.

“We will never use the private sector to carry out health assessments and there won’t be any degrading functional examinations such as asking a client to ‘touch their toes’.”

People already receiving the UK Government’s PIP and Disability Living Allowance do not need to make an application for Adult Disability Payment. These existing awards will transfer automatically from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to Social Security Scotland.

Cases will transfer in stages starting from this summer, according to the Scottish Government, and this process is expected to be completed by the end of 2025.