Quick answer
If you can wait 2 to 6 weeks, Citizens Advice is the best free option. If your case is complex or heading to tribunal, a welfare solicitor (£300 to £1,200) gives you formal representation. If you have time to research and write the form yourself, DIY is free. If you need speed plus structured, descriptor-matched answers and want to stay in control, ADPexpert (£49.99 to £149.99) is the fastest paid option - delivered same day.
At a glance
| Feature | Citizens Advice | Welfare solicitor | DIY | ADPexpert |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free, donation funded | £300 to £1,200 | Free | £49.99 to £149.99 one off |
| Wait time | 2 to 6 weeks for appointment | 1 to 4 weeks | Your own pace | Same day, usually 10 minutes |
| Writes your answers | Sometimes (queue based) | Yes | You write everything | Yes, all 12 activities |
| Mapped to descriptors | Varies by adviser | Yes | You research yourself | Yes, every answer |
| Submits on your behalf | Yes | Yes | You submit | You submit and stay in control |
| Tribunal representation | Sometimes if capacity | Yes | Self-represent | Re-determination Pack add on (£149.99) |
| Best for | People who can wait | Complex cases, tribunal | Confident self-helpers | Speed + control |
1. Citizens Advice
Citizens Advice is the largest provider of free welfare benefits help in Scotland. Trained advisers can help you complete the ADP application Part 2, gather evidence, prepare for a consultation and submit your claim. Many local Citizens Advice offices also offer re-determination and tribunal support.
Pros
- Free service, donation funded
- In-person and telephone appointments
- Well-trained, experienced advisers
- Often submits on your behalf
- Can also help with related benefits (Universal Credit, Scottish Child Payment, etc)
Cons
- 2 to 6 week wait for an appointment in most areas
- Quality varies between offices and individual advisers
- Cannot always guarantee re-determination or tribunal representation if capacity is full
- Less suited to fast deadlines (form return windows)
Best for: Anyone who has time to wait and prefers free, in-person help. Start here if you are not in a rush. Find your local office at cas.org.uk.
2. Welfare rights solicitor (or specialist adviser)
A welfare solicitor or specialist welfare rights adviser is a paid professional who handles your claim end to end - drafting the form, submitting evidence, attending re-determination and representing you at tribunal if needed. Some Law Centres offer this service free or on a sliding scale.
Pros
- Expert understanding of ADP regulations and case law
- Formal representation at re-determination and tribunal
- Strong choice for complex medical histories or multiple refusals
- Submits on your behalf, handles correspondence
Cons
- Most expensive option, typically £300 to £1,200
- Can take 1 to 4 weeks just for initial advice
- Legal aid for welfare is very limited in 2026
- Overkill for straightforward first claims
Best for: Complex cases, repeated refusals, tribunal-bound claims or large back-payment disputes. Look for a solicitor regulated by the Law Society of Scotland with welfare benefits experience, or a Citizens Advice Specialist Service.
3. DIY - do it yourself
You can submit an ADP claim entirely on your own using guidance from mygov.scot, free resources like our 75+ ADP guides, and your own knowledge of your conditions. Many people successfully self-claim and get awarded.
Pros
- Completely free
- Full control - you decide every word
- No waiting for appointments
- Forces you to deeply understand your own case (useful if a consultation is needed)
Cons
- Easy to use the wrong language and lose points
- Most people do not know about the four reliability criteria
- Hours of research needed to do it well
- If refused, you start the appeal process alone
Best for: People with time and confidence to research thoroughly. Read our ADP application Part 2 guide and descriptor breakdown first.
4. ADPexpert
ADPexpert is a writing tool, not a representation service. We generate the long-form written answers your ADP application Part 2 asks for, all 12 activities, mapped to the official descriptors and points. You read, edit and submit yourself - which means you stay fully in control of your claim. In Scotland most determinations are made on the paperwork, so your form is your case. Same-day delivery, one-off payment, no subscription.
Pros
- Same day delivery, usually 10 minutes
- All 12 activities written for you with the exact descriptor language
- Free preview for one activity, no card needed
- Works for new claims and award reviews
- You stay in control - edit before submitting
- Re-determination Pack add on (£149.99) for tribunal-ready materials
Cons
- Costs money (£49.99 to £149.99) where Citizens Advice and DIY are free
- You still submit and handle Social Security Scotland correspondence yourself
- Not a formal representation service - no one attends tribunal with you
- Online only - if you cannot use a website easily, ask someone to help or choose Citizens Advice
Best for: People who need speed, want to stay in control and value structured descriptor-matched answers. Often used alongside Citizens Advice - draft with us, review with them.
Not sure which to choose? Use this guide
Can I use more than one?
Yes, and many people do. A common pattern: use ADPexpert to draft strong answers quickly because of a tight deadline, then book a Citizens Advice appointment afterward to review them before you submit. Or use Citizens Advice for the initial claim and a welfare solicitor at tribunal stage if needed. None of these options lock you into anything - mix and match what helps you build the strongest claim.
What Social Security Scotland actually scores
Whatever option you choose, Social Security Scotland scores your claim against official descriptors for each of the 12 ADP activities. You need 8 points for the standard rate or 12 points for the enhanced rate, in each component (daily living and mobility). The four reliability criteria - safely, to an acceptable standard, repeatedly, within a reasonable time period - decide which descriptor your difficulty matches.
Most rejected claims fail not because the person does not qualify, but because they do not describe their difficulties in the language the descriptors score against. In Scotland most determinations are made on your paperwork, so your form is your case. Pick the help option that matches your time, budget and confidence level, then make sure your answers address the reliability criteria for each activity.
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