Monday June 29th 2026
Edinburgh City Chambers
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Joe Sullivan
Councillors have backed an effort to study the impacts falling success rates of Adult Disability Payment (ADP) applications have had on Edinburgh residents in recent years.
In addition, they have voted for an exploration of what the council can do to support residents in applying for the benefit, and appealing rejected applications.
Both were contained in a motion before last Thursday’s (27) full council meeting put forward by Green councillor Dan Heap.
In it, he stated that successful applications to the scheme across Scotland had fallen from 57% in 2022/23 to 34% in 2025/26.
He added that tribunal results showed 53% of appeals to rejections were approved, which he stated indicated problems with correct decisionmaking on applications.
Cllr Heap stated that his concern with the situation was that it was cutting off city residents from services the council provides, like blue badges.
The council’s Conservative group put forward an amendment that sought to have the council take no action, and put the responsibility for looking into the situation to Holyrood.
Group leader and Conservative councillor Iain Whyte said: “Once again we have a motion before us that is the responsibility of another body, that body being the Scottish Government.
“Who holds them to account? Not us, but members of the Scottish Parliament. I’ve pointed out in the amendment that we have 13 MSPs who represent Edinburgh either directly or through the wider region.
“They get a lot of staff costs, other costs, office costs, in order to communicate with constituents to get on with the job of holding the Scottish Government to account.”
He added that four councillors from the city had recently been elected to Holyrood, and one Green MSP had been elected in the city.
Further, he said the council already directly operates and funds welfare advice services to help with applications and other needs of benefits applicants.
Cllr Heap responded that his motion was involved with ensuring city residents were entitled to receive city administered services, meaning there was still a role for the council.
Councillors voted 43-10 to support Cllr Heap’s motion.
After the vote, Cllr Heap said: “Adult Disability Payment is paid to help disabled people overcome barriers.
“Because ADP is linked to many other elements of support such as blue badges, that has a knock-on impact on the support that the council can provide to disabled people.
“I’m glad the council has agreed to highlight such a major injustice, and explore ways to support disabled people in the capital, both with applications and appeals for Adult Disability Payment.”
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