Information relating to administrative backlogs or delays affecting ADP reviews: FOI release

FOI Reference: FOI/202600503205
Date received: 24 January 2026
Date responded: 20 February 2026

Information requested

Please provide the following information held by Social Security Scotland in relation to Adult Disability Payment (ADP), covering the 12 months prior to the date this request is received.

Request for information 1:

Risk registers / corporate risks Copies of any entries (including current or historic versions) within:

a) corporate risk registers

b) directorate-level risk registers, or

c) programme / delivery risk logs that refer to administrative backlogs, delays, or queueing affecting ADP reviews.

Request for information 2:

Senior management briefings / management information

Copies of any internal briefings, reports, or management information provided to senior management or governance boards that refer to:

a) delays in processing or allocating ADP reviews; or

b) risks to meeting ADP review or redetermination timescales.

Request for information 3:

Operational mitigations Copies of any internal guidance notes or operational updates issued to staff that:

a) acknowledge delays or backlogs in ADP review administration; and

b) set out mitigations, workarounds, or temporary measures to manage those delays.

Request for information 4:

Exempt information:

Where information within the scope of this request is held but considered exempt from disclosure:

a) please confirm that the information is held;

b) specify the exemption(s) relied upon and why they apply; and

c) provide any non-exempt material or high-level summaries that can be disclosed.

Please provide the information in electronic form.

If any part of this request is refused, please specify the exemption(s) relied upon and explain why they apply.

Response

Request for information 1, 2 and 4:

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance Social Security Scotland does not have the information you have requested.

We reviewed corporate and directorate level risk registers, programme and delivery risk logs, and senior management briefings and reports covering the 12-month period specified in your request.

These records do not contain entries referring to administrative delays, backlogs, or queueing affecting ADP reviews. They also do not contain material relating to risks or issues associated with meeting review or redetermination timescales.

This is a formal notice under section 17(1) of FOISA that Social Security Scotland does not have the information you have requested.

You may find it useful to note that we regularly publish information on Adult Disability Payment reviews within our statistical publications.

The latest publication is available at: Adult Disability Payment statistics to 31 October 2025 - Social Security Scotland

Request for information 3:

We can provide information that is in scope of this part of your request. An internal guidance document titled ‘What we consider to be a delayed review’ is enclosed.

Please note that this guidance is currently under review and is subject to change. It is being released because it falls within the scope of your request.

About FOI

Social Security Scotland is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. The Scottish Government also publishes responses to requests. You can view the responses at Publications - gov.scot