Adult Disability Payment (ADP) review statistics: FOI release

Information requested

You requested information regarding review periods, specifically the set time for Social Security Scotland to check if an individual is still entitled to Adult Disability Payment (ADP).

Request for information 1:
The average length of a review period for Adult Disability Payment (ADP).

Request for information 2:
The modal review period for Adult Disability Payment (ADP).

Request for information 3:

• The number Adult Disability Payment (ADP) claimants who have a review period of:
• less than one year
• between one and two years
• between two and five years
• between five and ten years
• 10 years

For each figure, please reveal what proportion of the overall caseload it is.

Request for information 4:

Provide a breakdown of Adult Disability Payment (ADP) review periods by award level.

Response

We have interpreted your request to relate to review periods for clients who are currently eligible for Adult Disability Payment (ADP).

Request for information 1:

The mean (average) review period for Adult Disability Payment (ADP) is 44.34 months.

Request for information 2:

The modal review period for Adult Disability Payment (ADP) is 24 months.

Request for information 3:

The table below shows the number of scheduled reviews set for each time period, please be aware that these figures are established from internal management information based on analysis completed on 28 October 2025. We are still quality assuring the underlying data and expect these figures to change and be improved as we further understand the data.

ADP Review Period in Months	Scheduled Reviews
0-12	31,957
13-24	131,837
25-36	113,494
37-48	46,845
49-60	83,014
61+	85,181

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance Social Security Scotland does not have some of the information you have requested, this is because the information provided around review periods has been taken from management information which is produced by different methodologies to those used when establishing the overall caseload, these sub-sets of data are not currently linked. As such, we do not hold information on what proportion of the overall caseload is accounted for by the above data. There is no requirement under the legislation for authorities to create new information in response to a request.

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

Request for information 4:

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance Social Security Scotland does not have some of the information you have requested, this is because the information provided around review periods has been taken from management information which is produced by different methodologies to those used when establishing the award level of Adult Disability Payment (ADP) awards, these sub-sets of data are not currently linked. There is no requirement under the legislation for authorities to create new information in response to a request.

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

It may be of interest for you to know that Social Security Scotland publishes statistics for Adult Disability Payment (ADP), including data related to reviews. The most recent publication covers up to 31 July 2025, with the next release due for 16 December 2025. You can access the publication via the link below:

Adult Disability Payment statistics to 31 July 2025 - Social Security Scotland

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.