Rates and form of payment

Adult Disability Payment is usually paid via bank transfer to a nominated bank account.

An individual may not have access to a bank account. If this is the case, Social Security Scotland will contact them to establish a suitable payment method.

The rate at which the daily living component of Adult Disability Payment is paid is either (ADP regs, reg.33(1)):

• the standard rate
• the enhanced rate

The rate at which the mobility component of Adult Disability Payment is paid is either (ADP regs, reg.33(2))

• the standard rate
• the enhanced rate,

The amount for each rate above will be subject to increase with annual uprating each April. View the current rates on MyGov.

Overlapping benefits

Where an individual is entitled to both:

• the daily living component of Adult Disability Payment, and
• Constant Attendance Allowance

at the same time, the amount of Adult Disability Payment should be reduced by the amount of Constant Attendance Allowance paid. Where the amount of Constant Attendance Allowance is equal to or more than Adult Disability Payment, the amount of Adult Disability Payment will be calculated at £0 (ADP regs, reg.34(4) and (5))

Constant Attendance Allowance supports individuals who become ill or disabled because of an accident or disease in the course of employment. Constant Attendance Allowance can be paid to individuals who are 16 years old or above.

Other benefits

Armed Forces Independence Payment

Armed Forces Independence Payment is a benefit paid to ex service personnel who have sustained injuries in the course of service within the British Armed Forces that have resulted in severe disability. The amount of benefit paid is the same as the amount of enhanced daily living and mobility components of Adult Disability Payment.

.Armed Forces Independence Payment is administered and paid by the Veterans Agency. Like Adult Disability Payment, it is tax free and non means tested, and attracts the same passporting arrangements with the Department for Work and Pensions as Adult Disability Payment. However, there are some differences:

• Once awarded, Armed Forces Independence Payment is paid for life and is not subject to review at any point. It only ends when the recipient dies
• Armed Forces Independence Payment can be paid anywhere in the world and does not depend on being resident or physically present in Great Britain
• Payment of Armed Forces Independence Payment is not affected by admission to hospital, residential care or legal detention

A client entitled to Armed Forces Independence Payment cannot be entitled to Adult Disability Payment at the same time. In practice, it is unlikely that Social Security Scotland will receive high numbers of applications for Adult Disability Payment where the client is already receiving Armed Forces Independence Payment because the veterans’ welfare advisers who support clients are aware of this. If a client does begin an application, there will be a question in Part 1 of the application form asking if they are receiving or have applied for Armed Forces Independence Payment. If so they will be asked to call Social Security Scotland to discuss further.

Other payment methods

It is possible for some or all of an individual’s Adult Disability Payment to be paid by an alternative payment method if the recipient agrees1 . This may be the case where the individual both:

• receives the enhanced rate of the mobility component
• chooses to hire or hire-purchase vehicles directly from accredited providers of vehicles to disabled people (known as the Accessible Vehicles and Equipment Scheme, also commonly known as ‘Motability’)

Social Security Scotland will arrange to pay part or all of the mobility component to the provider until the lease has ended.