ADP Consultation: What to Expect

If you have applied for Adult Disability Payment (ADP) and a letter arrives inviting you to a consultation, it is easy to feel your stomach drop. Many people carry the memory of the old face to face assessment used across the rest of the UK, and expect the same. Scotland does things differently. A consultation is far less common under ADP, it is deliberately not a test, and the letter you receive is designed to remove surprises rather than create them. This guide explains when a consultation happens, what the different formats look like, how to read your invitation letter and how to walk in prepared.

The first thing to know: most people never have one

Under Adult Disability Payment, the default is a paper based determination. Social Security Scotland reads your application, considers the supporting information gathered for your case and makes a decision from that. A consultation is not a routine step everyone goes through. It happens only when it is the only practical way to get the information needed to reach a fair determination.

In plain terms, you are more likely to be invited to a consultation when there is a gap. Perhaps a part of your application was left thin, perhaps the supporting information does not yet explain how your condition affects a particular activity, or perhaps two pieces of information appear to point in different directions and someone needs to talk it through with you. It is not a sign that you have done something wrong or that your claim is doomed. It is a request for one more piece of the picture.

Why a consultation is not a medical examination

Social Security Scotland is explicit that a consultation is not a diagnosis and not a medical examination. Nobody will physically examine you, ask you to perform movements or test your body. The health and social care practitioner already accepts your diagnosis. What they want to understand is the effect of your condition: how it changes what you can and cannot do, how often, and with what help.

That difference matters when you prepare. You are not there to prove you are ill. You are there to describe the practical reality of your days, so the case manager can match that reality against the descriptors for the 12 activities. The conversation only covers the parts of your application flagged in your letter, so it is usually narrower than people fear.

The formats: phone, video or in person

An ADP consultation can happen in more than one way, and the format is chosen to suit your circumstances rather than the department's convenience.

• By phone. A practitioner calls you at the arranged time. This is often the least stressful option for people who find travel or new places difficult.
• By video call. A scheduled video appointment, useful if you would rather be seen but cannot easily travel.
• In person. This can be at a local venue near you, or at your own home where getting out is a barrier in itself.

Your invitation letter tells you which format has been arranged. If it does not suit your needs, for example if a phone call is hard because of a hearing condition, or you would struggle to attend a venue, you can contact Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222 to talk about changing it. The aim is a format you can actually manage, not a hurdle.

Reading your invitation letter

The invitation letter is the most useful document you will get at this stage, because it takes the guesswork out of the meeting. Read it slowly. It should tell you:

Knowing the topics ahead of time is a real advantage. If the letter says the practitioner wants to talk about managing medication and moving around outdoors, you can think through concrete examples for exactly those activities rather than trying to cover everything.

Identity checks and recording

For an in-person consultation you will be asked to bring two forms of identification, and the accepted types are listed in your letter. If you cannot provide two forms, or the consultation is by phone or video, you will instead be asked three security questions based on information you have already given, simply to confirm they are speaking to the right person.

Your consultation is recorded unless you opt out. The recording is there to make sure the report is accurate, which protects you as much as anyone. You do not have to accept it, but many people find it reassuring that there is a faithful record of what was actually said.

Bringing support and taking breaks

You do not have to do this alone. You can bring someone with you for support, whether that is a partner, a friend, a carer or an advocate. A supporter can prompt you on the things you find hard to raise, and their presence often makes it easier to speak honestly about difficult symptoms.

Talking about your health can be draining. If you need a break at any point, tell the practitioner. If you feel unable to carry on, they can stop and rearrange the consultation for another day. There is no penalty for needing to pause, and no advantage in pushing through when you are struggling.

What happens after the consultation

Once the consultation is over, the practitioner writes a report describing what you discussed. That report goes back to your case manager, who weighs it alongside everything else already on your case: your application, your supporting information and any information gathered on your behalf. The practitioner does not make the award. The case manager reaches the determination, then Social Security Scotland writes to you with the outcome.

If you disagree with that determination, you have a clear route. You can ask for a re-determination within 42 days of the determination letter, and Social Security Scotland then has 56 days to look at your case again. If they miss that deadline you gain a direct right of appeal to the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland, and you have 31 days from the re-determination outcome to lodge it. Remember too that if you already had an award and a new determination reduces or stops it, challenging that decision can bring Short-term Assistance while you wait.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does everyone applying for ADP have a consultation?

No. Most determinations are made on the papers from your application and supporting information. A consultation only happens when Social Security Scotland cannot make a fair decision without talking to you, for example when parts of your application are unclear or there is not enough supporting information about how your condition affects you.

Is the ADP consultation a medical examination?

No. Social Security Scotland is clear that a consultation is not a diagnosis or a medical examination. You will not be physically examined. It is a conversation with a health and social care practitioner about how your condition affects your daily living and mobility, covering only the parts of your application they need to understand better.

How will I know a consultation is happening and what it will cover?

Social Security Scotland sends you an invitation letter in advance. It names the practitioner you will speak to, tells you the format and how long it is expected to last, and sets out which parts of your application they want to discuss. You also get a checklist so you can make sure you have everything ready.

Can my consultation be by phone or video instead of in person?

Yes. A consultation can take place by phone, by video call or in person, and in-person consultations can be at a local venue or at your home. The format is in your invitation letter, and if it does not suit your needs you can call 0800 182 2222 to discuss it.

Can I bring someone with me?

Yes. You can have someone with you for support, such as a partner, friend, carer or advocate. The consultation is recorded unless you opt out, and you can ask for a break at any point if you need one.

What should I do to prepare?

Read the invitation letter and use its checklist, reread your application so your answers are consistent, and think about your typical and worst days rather than your best. Bring the ID listed in your letter, or be ready to answer three security questions.