Citizens Advice Scotland says demand for advice about Adult Disability Payment (ADP) remains high, especially where people are challenging decisions, dealing with reviews, or struggling with mobility assessments.
Key points
- The Citizens Advice network provided over 77,000 pieces of ADP daily living advice to more than 27,000 people in 2025–26.
- Advice about redeterminations and appeals remains consistently high and is the third biggest area of ADP advice.
- In January to March 2026, redeterminations and appeals made up 21% of all ADP advice work, covering 7,608 pieces of advice.
- Advice on Short-Term Assistance (STA) has more than doubled over the last year, showing more people need temporary financial support while challenging reduced or stopped awards.
Main concerns raised
1. Review decisions are causing hardship
CAS says some ADP review decisions are inaccurate or unpredictable. When awards are reduced or stopped, people may lose money they rely on for health needs, daily living, or getting around.
Example given:
James had his ADP award ended after review, despite chronic pain and cognitive impairment. He became anxious about whether he could get STA and how he would cope financially while appealing.
CAS recommendation:
The Scottish Government should continue with the criteria modernisation roadmap from the Independent Review of ADP, so future reforms better reflect disabled people’s real-life experiences.
2. Mobility needs are not being properly captured
CAS argues that the ADP mobility rules are too narrow and do not always reflect real-world barriers to walking or travelling.
The report says people may struggle to explain the link between:
- care needs
- mobility difficulties
- mental health conditions
- pain, fatigue, or safety concerns
- ability to travel reliably and repeatedly
Some people understand their daily living needs more easily than their mobility needs, which can lead to mobility problems being missed.
Example given:
Brian previously received Personal Independence Payment but had his points reduced after moving to ADP. Despite needing physical support and a wheelchair, he was awarded no mobility points.
CAS recommendation:
Social Security Scotland should strengthen decision-making training and guidance, especially around whether activities can be done safely, reliably, repeatedly and in a reasonable time.
3. Advisers need a national escalation route
CAS says advisers often help resolve difficult ADP cases, including urgent or safeguarding issues, but there is not a clear enough route to escalate problems quickly.
The report highlights that in quarter 4, Citizens Advice support helped unlock over £4 million of ADP entitlement. Three in five people supported who received daily living awards were awarded at initial application.
Example given:
Kate supported John, who was terminally ill. His ADP award was delayed for months, causing distress. CAS says an escalation route could have helped resolve the issue sooner.
CAS recommendation:
Social Security Scotland should establish a nationwide escalation route for advisers so urgent cases and safeguarding concerns can be dealt with faster.
Overall message
CAS welcomes ADP’s rights-based approach, which is built around dignity, fairness and respect, but says improvements are still needed. The main asks are:
- Better and more consistent ADP decision-making
- Stronger guidance on mobility assessments
- Faster support during reviews and appeals
- A national escalation route for advisers
- Continued reform of ADP criteria to reflect disabled people’s lived experience