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ADHD Private

Reference · as at 7 October 2026

Which scheme covers where you live: disability benefits, work support, law and driving in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

This page shows which scheme covers where you live: the scheme’s name, who runs it and where to start, for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It does not tell you whether you are entitled to anything, and it is not a benefit finder or a checker. That is for each scheme to decide.

In the table on wider screens, where a scheme is the same in England and Wales one cell spans both columns, and where it is the same across England, Wales and Scotland one cell spans all three. On a phone each nation is a section of its own. Every entry is as at 7 October 2026 and links to the official page it was read from. Rules, rates and contact details change, so check the official page before you act.

Informational only: not medical or legal advice.

The schemes side by side

England

Every entry for this nation, with the notes and the sources each entry was read from.

  • Disability benefit for people aged 16 and over

    Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

    The same entry for England and Wales.

    Run by:
    Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
    As at:
    7 October 2026
    • GOV.UK says to start a claim by phone on the PIP new claims line, 0800 917 2222, or by post to Freepost DWP PIP 1.
    • GOV.UK’s “who can get PIP” page lists “you’re 16 or over”, and says you also usually need to be under State Pension age to make a new PIP claim.
    • GOV.UK says that if you live in Scotland you need to apply for Adult Disability Payment instead of PIP.
    • PIP is under review: see the Timms Review notice at the top of this page.

    Sources: GOV.UK: Personal Independence Payment (PIP) (Read 7 October 2026); GOV.UK: PIP, who can get it (Read 7 October 2026); GOV.UK: PIP, how to claim (Read 7 October 2026); GOV.UK: The Timms Review, co-chair update, September 2026 (Published 9 September 2026; read 7 October 2026).

  • Disability benefit for children

    Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children

    The same entry for England and Wales.

    Run by:
    Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
    As at:
    7 October 2026
    • GOV.UK says to apply by printing the DLA claim form, or by phoning the DLA helpline on 0800 121 4600 and asking for a printed form.
    • GOV.UK says the child must be under 16, and that anyone over 16 must apply for Personal Independence Payment.
    • GOV.UK says that if your child lives in Scotland you apply for Child Disability Payment instead, and that if your child lives in Northern Ireland you apply for DLA for children in Northern Ireland.

    Sources: GOV.UK: DLA for children (Read 7 October 2026); GOV.UK: DLA for children, who can get it (Read 7 October 2026); GOV.UK: DLA for children, how to claim (Read 7 October 2026).

  • Work support

    Access to Work

    The same entry for England, Wales and Scotland.

    Run by:
    Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
    As at:
    7 October 2026
    • GOV.UK says to apply for Access to Work online or by phone, on the helpline 0800 121 7479 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm).
    • GOV.UK says you must live and work (or be about to start or return to work) in England, Scotland or Wales, and that there is a different system in Northern Ireland. It also says you do not need to be diagnosed with a condition to apply.
    • Great Britain only: DWP’s customer factsheet lists a cap of £69,260 a year per person for a grant awarded or reviewed between 1 April 2026 and 31 March 2027. It is a ceiling, not a set amount.
    • The Public Accounts Committee’s report of 12 June 2026 said the Government “has not yet decided what changes to make” to the scheme, so read this entry as the current position, which may change.

    Sources: GOV.UK: Access to Work, who can get it (Read 7 October 2026); GOV.UK: Access to Work, how to apply (Read 7 October 2026); DWP: Access to Work factsheet for customers (Read 7 October 2026); Public Accounts Committee: Access to Work report, 12 June 2026 (12 June 2026 (read 7 October 2026)).

  • The law that protects against disability discrimination

    Equality Act 2010

    The same entry for England, Wales and Scotland.

    Run by:
    A law, not a scheme. For work claims ACAS says the first step is to notify Acas, and claims are made to an employment tribunal.
    As at:
    7 October 2026
    • GOV.UK: “The Equality Act 2010 does not apply to Northern Ireland.”
    • Employment tribunal time limit, in ACAS’s words: the law on time limits changed on 1 October 2026 and how long you have depends on when the problem happened. For a problem that happened before 1 October 2026, ACAS gives “3 months minus 1 day” for most claims. For a problem that happened on or after 1 October 2026, ACAS gives “6 months minus 1 day” for most claims.
    • The Equality Act 2010, section 123(1)(a), now reads “the period of 6 months starting with the date of the act to which the complaint relates”, and regulation 4(1) of SI 2026/954 says the amendments do not apply “in any case where the relevant date occurs before 1st October 2026”. Check the limit for your own case with ACAS.
    • ACAS says that for discrimination the time limit starts from the most recent date of discrimination you are including in your claim, and that early conciliation pauses the time limit only if you notify Acas within it.

    Sources: GOV.UK: Definition of disability under the Equality Act 2010 (Read 7 October 2026); ACAS: Employment tribunal time limits (Page last updated 1 October 2026; read 7 October 2026); Equality Act 2010, section 123: Time limits (Read 7 October 2026); SI 2026/954, regulation 4: transitional provision (Read 7 October 2026).

  • Driving

    Telling DVLA about a medical condition

    The same entry for England, Wales and Scotland.

    Run by:
    DVLA (the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency)
    As at:
    7 October 2026
    • GOV.UK: “You must tell DVLA if your attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or your ADHD medication affects your ability to drive safely.” It adds: “Ask your doctor if you’re unsure.”
    • GOV.UK says car and motorcycle licence holders can report a condition online or on form A1, and bus, coach and lorry licence holders use form A1V.
    • GOV.UK: “You can be fined up to £1,000 if you do not tell DVLA about ADHD that affects your ability to drive safely.”

    Source: GOV.UK: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and driving (Read 7 October 2026).

Wales

Every entry for this nation, with the notes and the sources each entry was read from.

  • Disability benefit for people aged 16 and over

    Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

    The same entry for England and Wales.

    Run by:
    Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
    As at:
    7 October 2026
    • GOV.UK says to start a claim by phone on the PIP new claims line, 0800 917 2222, or by post to Freepost DWP PIP 1.
    • GOV.UK’s “who can get PIP” page lists “you’re 16 or over”, and says you also usually need to be under State Pension age to make a new PIP claim.
    • GOV.UK says that if you live in Scotland you need to apply for Adult Disability Payment instead of PIP.
    • PIP is under review: see the Timms Review notice at the top of this page.

    Sources: GOV.UK: Personal Independence Payment (PIP) (Read 7 October 2026); GOV.UK: PIP, who can get it (Read 7 October 2026); GOV.UK: PIP, how to claim (Read 7 October 2026); GOV.UK: The Timms Review, co-chair update, September 2026 (Published 9 September 2026; read 7 October 2026).

  • Disability benefit for children

    Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children

    The same entry for England and Wales.

    Run by:
    Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
    As at:
    7 October 2026
    • GOV.UK says to apply by printing the DLA claim form, or by phoning the DLA helpline on 0800 121 4600 and asking for a printed form.
    • GOV.UK says the child must be under 16, and that anyone over 16 must apply for Personal Independence Payment.
    • GOV.UK says that if your child lives in Scotland you apply for Child Disability Payment instead, and that if your child lives in Northern Ireland you apply for DLA for children in Northern Ireland.

    Sources: GOV.UK: DLA for children (Read 7 October 2026); GOV.UK: DLA for children, who can get it (Read 7 October 2026); GOV.UK: DLA for children, how to claim (Read 7 October 2026).

  • Work support

    Access to Work

    The same entry for England, Wales and Scotland.

    Run by:
    Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
    As at:
    7 October 2026
    • GOV.UK says to apply for Access to Work online or by phone, on the helpline 0800 121 7479 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm).
    • GOV.UK says you must live and work (or be about to start or return to work) in England, Scotland or Wales, and that there is a different system in Northern Ireland. It also says you do not need to be diagnosed with a condition to apply.
    • Great Britain only: DWP’s customer factsheet lists a cap of £69,260 a year per person for a grant awarded or reviewed between 1 April 2026 and 31 March 2027. It is a ceiling, not a set amount.
    • The Public Accounts Committee’s report of 12 June 2026 said the Government “has not yet decided what changes to make” to the scheme, so read this entry as the current position, which may change.

    Sources: GOV.UK: Access to Work, who can get it (Read 7 October 2026); GOV.UK: Access to Work, how to apply (Read 7 October 2026); DWP: Access to Work factsheet for customers (Read 7 October 2026); Public Accounts Committee: Access to Work report, 12 June 2026 (12 June 2026 (read 7 October 2026)).

  • The law that protects against disability discrimination

    Equality Act 2010

    The same entry for England, Wales and Scotland.

    Run by:
    A law, not a scheme. For work claims ACAS says the first step is to notify Acas, and claims are made to an employment tribunal.
    As at:
    7 October 2026
    • GOV.UK: “The Equality Act 2010 does not apply to Northern Ireland.”
    • Employment tribunal time limit, in ACAS’s words: the law on time limits changed on 1 October 2026 and how long you have depends on when the problem happened. For a problem that happened before 1 October 2026, ACAS gives “3 months minus 1 day” for most claims. For a problem that happened on or after 1 October 2026, ACAS gives “6 months minus 1 day” for most claims.
    • The Equality Act 2010, section 123(1)(a), now reads “the period of 6 months starting with the date of the act to which the complaint relates”, and regulation 4(1) of SI 2026/954 says the amendments do not apply “in any case where the relevant date occurs before 1st October 2026”. Check the limit for your own case with ACAS.
    • ACAS says that for discrimination the time limit starts from the most recent date of discrimination you are including in your claim, and that early conciliation pauses the time limit only if you notify Acas within it.

    Sources: GOV.UK: Definition of disability under the Equality Act 2010 (Read 7 October 2026); ACAS: Employment tribunal time limits (Page last updated 1 October 2026; read 7 October 2026); Equality Act 2010, section 123: Time limits (Read 7 October 2026); SI 2026/954, regulation 4: transitional provision (Read 7 October 2026).

  • Driving

    Telling DVLA about a medical condition

    The same entry for England, Wales and Scotland.

    Run by:
    DVLA (the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency)
    As at:
    7 October 2026
    • GOV.UK: “You must tell DVLA if your attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or your ADHD medication affects your ability to drive safely.” It adds: “Ask your doctor if you’re unsure.”
    • GOV.UK says car and motorcycle licence holders can report a condition online or on form A1, and bus, coach and lorry licence holders use form A1V.
    • GOV.UK: “You can be fined up to £1,000 if you do not tell DVLA about ADHD that affects your ability to drive safely.”

    Source: GOV.UK: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and driving (Read 7 October 2026).

Scotland

Every entry for this nation, with the notes and the sources each entry was read from.

  • Disability benefit for people aged 16 and over

    Adult Disability Payment

    Run by:
    Social Security Scotland
    As at:
    7 October 2026
    • mygov.scot says you can apply online through myaccount, or phone Social Security Scotland free on 0800 182 2222 (8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday) to start an application.
    • The mygov.scot pages are stamped 24 March 2025, so confirm the current steps with Social Security Scotland.
    • The Timms Review notice at the top of this page is about PIP: whether any outcome would apply to Adult Disability Payment has not been checked.

    Sources: mygov.scot: Adult Disability Payment (Page stamped 24 March 2025; read 7 October 2026); mygov.scot: Adult Disability Payment, how to apply (Page stamped 24 March 2025; read 7 October 2026); GOV.UK: Personal Independence Payment (PIP) (Read 7 October 2026).

  • Disability benefit for children

    Child Disability Payment

    Run by:
    Social Security Scotland
    As at:
    7 October 2026

    • Under 16

      mygov.scot: “You can apply for children under 16 with a physical or mental disability.” Child Disability Payment is the Scottish benefit in place of DLA for children. mygov.scot also says the young person can choose to apply for Adult Disability Payment 13 weeks before they turn 16.

    • 16 to 17

      mygov.scot says a young person between 16 and 18 can stay on Child Disability Payment until they are 18, or apply for Adult Disability Payment before they are 18. When the child turns 16, Social Security Scotland writes to their parent, guardian or appointee and asks if the young person can manage their own payments.

    • 18 and over

      mygov.scot says Social Security Scotland pays Child Disability Payment until the young person is 18, and that it usually stops at 18 if there has been no application for Adult Disability Payment. It can sometimes continue for a limited time after 18, for example while a decision on an Adult Disability Payment application is awaited. Moving to Adult Disability Payment does not happen automatically: it needs a new application, which can still be made after Child Disability Payment ends. The same page also says: “Usually, you need to submit your application for Adult Disability Payment before your 18th birthday.”

    • mygov.scot says you can apply online through myaccount, or by phone and paper: freephone 0800 182 2222 (8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday).
    • mygov.scot says you can also apply if the child does not have a diagnosis, and tell Social Security Scotland how they are affected and any symptoms they have.
    • mygov.scot says you can usually get Child Disability Payment until you are 18. The three age bands below are our grouping of the mygov.scot pages, not mygov.scot’s own. The mygov.scot pages are stamped 21 August 2025.

    Sources: mygov.scot: Child Disability Payment (Page stamped 21 August 2025; read 7 October 2026); mygov.scot: Child Disability Payment, how to apply (Page stamped 21 August 2025; read 7 October 2026); mygov.scot: Child Disability Payment, payments (Page stamped 21 August 2025; read 7 October 2026); mygov.scot: Moving from Child Disability Payment to Adult Disability Payment (Page stamped 21 August 2025; read 7 October 2026); GOV.UK: DLA for children (Read 7 October 2026).

  • Work support

    Access to Work

    The same entry for England, Wales and Scotland.

    Run by:
    Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
    As at:
    7 October 2026
    • GOV.UK says to apply for Access to Work online or by phone, on the helpline 0800 121 7479 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm).
    • GOV.UK says you must live and work (or be about to start or return to work) in England, Scotland or Wales, and that there is a different system in Northern Ireland. It also says you do not need to be diagnosed with a condition to apply.
    • Great Britain only: DWP’s customer factsheet lists a cap of £69,260 a year per person for a grant awarded or reviewed between 1 April 2026 and 31 March 2027. It is a ceiling, not a set amount.
    • The Public Accounts Committee’s report of 12 June 2026 said the Government “has not yet decided what changes to make” to the scheme, so read this entry as the current position, which may change.

    Sources: GOV.UK: Access to Work, who can get it (Read 7 October 2026); GOV.UK: Access to Work, how to apply (Read 7 October 2026); DWP: Access to Work factsheet for customers (Read 7 October 2026); Public Accounts Committee: Access to Work report, 12 June 2026 (12 June 2026 (read 7 October 2026)).

  • The law that protects against disability discrimination

    Equality Act 2010

    The same entry for England, Wales and Scotland.

    Run by:
    A law, not a scheme. For work claims ACAS says the first step is to notify Acas, and claims are made to an employment tribunal.
    As at:
    7 October 2026
    • GOV.UK: “The Equality Act 2010 does not apply to Northern Ireland.”
    • Employment tribunal time limit, in ACAS’s words: the law on time limits changed on 1 October 2026 and how long you have depends on when the problem happened. For a problem that happened before 1 October 2026, ACAS gives “3 months minus 1 day” for most claims. For a problem that happened on or after 1 October 2026, ACAS gives “6 months minus 1 day” for most claims.
    • The Equality Act 2010, section 123(1)(a), now reads “the period of 6 months starting with the date of the act to which the complaint relates”, and regulation 4(1) of SI 2026/954 says the amendments do not apply “in any case where the relevant date occurs before 1st October 2026”. Check the limit for your own case with ACAS.
    • ACAS says that for discrimination the time limit starts from the most recent date of discrimination you are including in your claim, and that early conciliation pauses the time limit only if you notify Acas within it.

    Sources: GOV.UK: Definition of disability under the Equality Act 2010 (Read 7 October 2026); ACAS: Employment tribunal time limits (Page last updated 1 October 2026; read 7 October 2026); Equality Act 2010, section 123: Time limits (Read 7 October 2026); SI 2026/954, regulation 4: transitional provision (Read 7 October 2026).

  • Driving

    Telling DVLA about a medical condition

    The same entry for England, Wales and Scotland.

    Run by:
    DVLA (the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency)
    As at:
    7 October 2026
    • GOV.UK: “You must tell DVLA if your attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or your ADHD medication affects your ability to drive safely.” It adds: “Ask your doctor if you’re unsure.”
    • GOV.UK says car and motorcycle licence holders can report a condition online or on form A1, and bus, coach and lorry licence holders use form A1V.
    • GOV.UK: “You can be fined up to £1,000 if you do not tell DVLA about ADHD that affects your ability to drive safely.”

    Source: GOV.UK: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and driving (Read 7 October 2026).

Northern Ireland

Every entry for this nation, with the notes and the sources each entry was read from.

  • Disability benefit for people aged 16 and over

    Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

    Run by:
    Department for Communities (DfC), through the PIP Centre
    As at:
    7 October 2026
    • nidirect says to contact the PIP Centre by phone, by post or by using sign language.
    • nidirect lists “you are aged 16 or over” and “you are under State Pension age”, and says the page is for Northern Ireland residents only.
    • The Timms Review notice at the top of this page is about PIP: whether any outcome would apply to Northern Ireland’s PIP has not been checked.

    Source: nidirect: Personal Independence Payment (PIP) (Read 7 October 2026).

  • Disability benefit for children

    Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children

    Run by:
    Department for Communities (DfC), through its Disability and Carers Service
    As at:
    7 October 2026
    • nidirect says you can email [email protected] to ask for a claim pack, call the Disability and Carers Service on 0800 587 0912, or download the claim form.
    • nidirect describes DLA for children as for a child who is under 16 and has difficulty walking or needs more looking after than a child of the same age who does not have a disability.
    • nidirect says a child will need to apply for Personal Independence Payment when they turn 16.

    Sources: nidirect: Disability Living Allowance for children (Read 7 October 2026); Department for Communities: Disability and Carers Service (Read 7 October 2026).

  • Work support

    Access to Work (NI)

    Run by:
    Department for Communities (DfC)
    As at:
    7 October 2026
    • nidirect says to contact the Department for Communities by email at [email protected], or to contact a work coach in your local Jobs and Benefits office.
    • nidirect says the application must be made by the person with the disability, and that help will be approved for as long as it is needed, up to a maximum of three years.
    • This is a separate scheme: the Great Britain cap of £69,260 a year is not carried over to Access to Work (NI), and nidirect’s page prints no annual cap.

    Sources: nidirect: Access to Work (NI), practical help at work (Read 7 October 2026); DWP: Access to Work factsheet for customers (Read 7 October 2026).

  • The law that protects against disability discrimination

    Disability Discrimination Act 1995

    Run by:
    A law, not a scheme. The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland gives advice, and its page says legal action goes through the courts or tribunals.
    As at:
    7 October 2026
    • nidirect names the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, and the Special Educational Needs and Disability (NI) Order 2005, as the two laws banning disability discrimination in Northern Ireland.
    • nidirect says disability discrimination law does not apply to the provision of education in schools, colleges and universities, which a different law covers instead.
    • The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland’s page prints “3 months” for disability discrimination in employment and does not show the Great Britain change of 1 October 2026. Whether Northern Ireland is changing its limit has not been checked, so check the current limit with the Commission.

    Sources: nidirect: Protection against disability discrimination (Read 7 October 2026); Equality Commission for Northern Ireland: Disability discrimination (Read 7 October 2026); Disability Discrimination Act 1995, section 1: Meaning of disability (Read 7 October 2026).

  • Driving

    Telling the DVA about a medical condition

    Run by:
    The Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA), not DVLA
    As at:
    7 October 2026
    • nidirect: “You must tell the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) if your attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or your ADHD medication affects your ability to drive safely.”
    • nidirect says a car or motorcycle licence holder needs to tell the DVA if there is a change to the condition that may make them an unsafe driver, or they are prescribed medication that causes side effects that will affect their driving. The form is A1 ODL for a car or motorcycle and A1 VOC for a lorry or bus.
    • nidirect says failing to tell the DVA about a medical condition that may impact your ability to drive is an offence, punishable on conviction by a fine of up to £1,000.

    Sources: nidirect: ADHD and driving (Read 7 October 2026); nidirect: How to tell DVA about your medical condition (Read 7 October 2026).

Our guides and tool

The guides explain each topic in more detail. The PIP diary is a tool, not a guide. Every start and source link in the schemes above is an official page.

Informational only: not medical or legal advice.