New report exposes barriers in Adult Disability Payment for people with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
- Area of Work: Policy and Research
- Type: News Item
- Published: 29th August 2025
The research explores the experiences of people with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) navigating the welfare benefits system.
The report has revealed that people living with Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), a severe hormone-based mood disorder, face significant barriers when applying for Adult Disability Payment (ADP). Engaging with those with PMDD and professional stakeholders, participants described the process as distressing and inconsistent, with the fluctuating nature of PMDD symptoms often poorly understood or overlooked.
The study identified four key challenges:
- The difficulty of evidencing fluctuating conditions under the 50% rule.
- A lack of trauma informed practice throughout the application process.
- Inconsistent assessment and decision outcomes.
- Limited awareness of available support.
Together, these issues left many applicants excluded from the financial assistance they need to live independently.
The authors recommend reforms to ensure ADP better reflects the realities of PMDD and broader fluctuating conditions. This includes applying the social model of disability to assessments, reforming eligibility criteria and improving training for decision-makers so that variability and mental health impact are fairly recognised in the process.
Read the full report here
End of page.
You may also like:
The 'joint statement on prevention' partners have issued a follow-up ahead of the 2026-27 Scottish Budget.
Continue readingEvent calls for human rights to be a priority ahead of the Scottish Parliament Elections in 2026.
Continue readingCommission raises concerns over the state of economic, social and cultural rights in Scotland
Continue readingNew online platform invites individuals and communities to shape Scotland’s path to net zero
Continue readingA survey of ALLIANCE third sector members found a worsening financial crisis arising from a range of pressures.
Continue readingThe ALLIANCE has produced a briefing for the Scottish Parliament debate on BSL, taking place on 11 December 2025.
Continue readingScottish Government outline actions in response to economic, social and cultural rights observations
The plan comes in response to the Concluding Observations from the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights earlier this year.
Continue readingThe ALLIANCE urges stronger social care integration, a clearer prevention focus and digital inclusion at the heart of NHS Delivery proposals
Continue readingNearly half of unpaid carers cut back on essentials as financial and health pressures intensify
Continue readingNew report warns thousands spending their final months in financial hardship and fuel poverty
Continue readingIndependent expert panel review recommends major changes to align abortion law with modern clinical practice
Continue readingALLIANCE and Engender call for an intersectional and rights-based approach to underpin a national investigation into maternity services.
Continue readingThe response welcomes ambition of draft standards but identifies key gaps in inclusion and communication
Continue readingThe Civil Society Working Group on Incorporation - of which the ALLIANCE is a member - has three main asks.
Continue readingMost respondents supported the principle of a balance between cross-cutting and condition-specific work.
Continue readingAny extension of Freedom of Information duties directly to the third sector must account for resource and capacity.
Continue readingThe Scottish Government are aiming for a single framework alongside time-limited action plans that can be condition-specific where required.
Continue readingNow is the time for a full-throated defence of the ECHR and HRA. No one has human rights, unless we all have human rights.
Continue readingHave your say in the draft 'Quality prescribing for Chronic Pain: a guide for improvement 2026-2029'.
Continue reading70% of disabled women reported feeling worse off financially compared to last year.
Continue readingA partnership of organisations including the ALLIANCE have issued an open statement on what's needed to urgently tackle health inequalities.
Continue readingA new plan to make sure everyone in Scotland gets the right care and support at the end of life
Continue readingNew research has highlighted the significant financial and social challenges faced by people living with Long COVID across Scotland.
Continue readingThe amendment aims to close a loophole that leaves people in outsourced mental health care without guaranteed human rights protections.
Continue readingThe resources come from a partnership between the ALLIANCE, Public Health Scotland, and the University of Strathclyde.
Continue reading