2. Who is eligible

• Daily living component
• Mobility component
• Students

You qualify for adult disability payment (ADP) if you meet all the following conditions.1s31 and Sch 5 SS(S)A 2018; regs 3 and 4 DAWAP(S) Regs

•You are aged 16 or over and, usually, under pension age.
•You satisfy certain rules on residence and presence in the UK, and are not a ’person subject to immigration control’. See CPAG’s Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook (for subscribers) for details.
•You satisfy the disability conditions for the daily living component and/or the mobility component.
•You have satisfied the disability conditions for the last 13 weeks (unless you are terminally ill) and are likely to continue to do so for the next 39 weeks.
•You are not entitled to child disability payment, personal independence payment (PIP), disability living allowance (DLA), attendance allowance or armed forces independence payment although people on PIP, and most people on DLA, were expected to be transferred to ADP by summer 2024.

Your ability to undertake various activities is assessed, taking into account whether you can carry out the activity safely, to an acceptable standard, repeatedly and within a reasonable time. Depending on the type and level of help you need, you score points in different activities. If you score eight points, you get the standard rate of a component; if you score 12 points, you get the enhanced rate. For example, if you cannot dress or undress yourself, you score eight points.

See CPAG’s Welfare Benefits and Tax Credits Handbook (for subscribers) for more information about the activities and the points awarded.

 

1     s31 and Sch 5 SS(S)A 2018; regs 3 and 4 DAWAP(S) Regs  »

Daily living component

To get the standard rate of the daily living component, your ability to undertake certain specified day-to-day activities must be limited by your health or disability. To get the enhanced rate, your ability to undertake the activities must be severely limited.

You are assessed on your ability to carry out the following activities:

•preparing food. If you cannot prepare and cook a simple meal yourself, you can score points;
•taking nutrition;
•managing therapy or monitoring your health condition;
•washing and bathing;
•managing toilet needs or incontinence;
•dressing and undressing;
•communicating verbally. If you need to use an aid to help you speak or hear, you can score two points; if you need a British Sign Language interpreter to help you understand or express information, you can score four to eight points, depending on the help you need;
•reading and understanding signs, symbols and words. If you need help to read, or need to use an appliance or aid (other than glasses or contact lenses), you can score points;
•engaging socially with other people face to face;
•making budgeting decisions. You can score points if your disability means you need help with budgeting.

Mobility component

You get the standard rate of the mobility component if your ability to undertake certain mobility activities is limited by your health or disability. If your ability to undertake the activities is severely limited, you get the enhanced rate.

You are assessed on your ability to plan and follow journeys, and to move around. You can score points if you need help to follow an unfamiliar or familiar route, including if you can only do so with the help of a guide dog or orientation aid.

Students

If you are a part-time or full-time student, you can get ADP if you meet the qualifying conditions. Starting to study should not affect your award, provided you still have daily living and/or mobility needs.