Adult Disability Payment Consultation — What to Expect

Consultations Are Not Automatic

A consultation is not a standard part of every ADP application. Social Security Scotland orders one only when your written application, supporting information, and internal practitioner discussions don't give enough information to make a fair decision. Most ADP decisions are made on paper without a consultation.

If you do get a consultation letter, it doesn't mean your claim is going badly. It means the Case Manager wants to hear more about specific aspects of how your condition affects you — often because your written answers were brief or a particular activity needs clarification.

How It Differs From a PIP Assessment

If you've had a PIP assessment in England or Wales, the ADP consultation is a fundamentally different experience. A consultation must be conducted by a suitably qualified practitioner employed by Social Security Scotland. The practitioner is selected based on the areas that need discussion.

There are no physical examinations. No one will ask you to bend, stretch, walk across a room, or perform tasks to test your abilities. The consultation is a semi-structured, trauma-informed conversation about your daily routines and functional difficulties.

Consultation Formats

You can be offered one of three formats:

• Telephone — the standard format.
• Video call — if suitable for your consultation.
• In person — at your home or another suitable location, such as a GP practice or Local Delivery office.

Social Security Scotland must consider your preference. If the format offered does not work for you, tell them.

You can tell Social Security Scotland if the format offered does not work for you. If you need accessibility support, contact it before the consultation; it can arrange support such as wheelchair access, an interpreter, documents in other formats, or extra time.

Your Rights During the Consultation

Bring someone with you. A family member, unpaid carer, or advocate can attend to provide support, add context about your daily life, or simply be there for reassurance.

The consultation is recorded by default. You can opt out before the consultation starts. If you want a copy of the recording, call Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222. This gives you a record of exactly what was said if you later challenge the decision.

Read the consultation report. The practitioner writes a report for the Case Manager, and your decision letter includes a copy. If it contains factual errors, you can raise those during a redetermination.

Take breaks. If pain, fatigue, or distress means you need to pause during the conversation, say so. The practitioner is trained to accommodate this.

How to Prepare

The consultation may focus on one or more of the 12 activities covered in Part 2. The Case Manager identifies the areas for discussion in advance, and the practitioner explores those areas. A few things help:

Review what you wrote. Read through your Part 2 answers before the consultation so you're consistent. If your condition has changed since you submitted the form, mention that.

Think in terms of the reliability test. For each activity the practitioner asks about, consider: can you do it safely? To an acceptable standard? Repeatedly throughout the day? Within a reasonable time? If not, explain which part fails and what actually happens.

Describe your worst days. Practitioners understand that conditions fluctuate. If you're having a relatively good day when the consultation happens, say so — and explain what a bad day looks like and how often those occur.

Don't minimise. Many people reflexively downplay their difficulties in conversation, especially face-to-face. The practitioner needs an accurate picture, not a polite one. If you struggle to talk about intimate care needs or mental health difficulties, your companion can help fill in those details.

What Happens If You Miss It

If you can't attend because of illness, a hospital stay, or a mental health crisis, contact Social Security Scotland to rearrange. You can reschedule a consultation up to 3 times within 3 months of the first appointment. If you have rescheduled 3 times and do not attend the fourth appointment, a Case Manager may decide using the information available, but must consider exceptional circumstances such as bereavement, unexpected illness, or a medical emergency.

After the Consultation

The practitioner sends their report to the Case Manager, who makes the final decision. The practitioner doesn't decide your award — they provide expertise, and the Case Manager applies it to the statutory criteria. Processing continues from where it left off, and you'll receive your Notice of Determination by post.

Our ADP claim guide includes a consultation preparation worksheet with activity-by-activity prompts — designed to help you organise what you want to say before the call or appointment.

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