Questions about MS? Call us on 0808 800 8000
A woman in her living room looking out of the window

Send your MSP a message: Scrap the 20 metre rule

We need you to speak out against the 20 metre rule in Scotland.

At the end of last year, the Scottish Government published a consultation on their plans for Adult Disability Payment (ADP), which will replace Personal Independence Payment (PIP) in Scotland.

Thanks to your feedback, they have now adopted many of our recommendations. But they intend to keep the 20 metre rule.

We’re urgently calling on the Scottish Government to review this criteria in their plans for Adult Disability Payment (ADP). And we need you to add your voice.

Use our template email to send a message to your MSP

Why we need to speak out

The 20 metre rule is a senseless and arbitrary measure of mobility. Under this rule, if you can walk just one step over 20 metres (roughly the length of two double-decker buses), the Scottish Government says you don’t need the higher rate of mobility support.

“One day you may be able to walk 20 metres, but you might not be able to walk back. Some days you can’t walk even five metres.”

- person living with MS

Under PIP, the 20 metre rule has failed people living with MS. As a result many people have lost vital financial support and their independence.

Help us send a message to MSPs

We’re calling for the Scottish Government to scrap the 20 metre rule. Or come up with an another way to support people with mobility needs.

Use our suggested email to tell your MSP about your experiences with the 20 metre rule. Do you know someone else who's been affected? Share this template with them too.

1. Copy our template message

Copy this email by highlighting the text and using your device copy function to copy it to your clipboard.

On smart phones and tablets, it should suggest you can copy the text once it's highlighted. On desktop you can use right click and select 'copy', or hold down the Cntrl and C buttons.

If you're using voice assisted technology or a screen reader and aren't sure what to do, or just need some help, email [email protected]

Template message

Dear MSP,

I write to you as your constituent. The Scottish Government have said Adult Disability Payment (ADP), Scotland’s replacement for Personal Independence Payment (PIP), will be delivered with the values of dignity, fairness and respect.

However, the Scottish Government are planning to use the same eligibility and assessment criteria as PIP.

This means they would keep the 20-metre rule as a measure of mobility. Including this rule goes against these values.

There are more than 15,000 people are living with multiple sclerosis (MS) in Scotland, one of the highest rates in the world.

MS is a neurological condition which damages nerves in your body and makes it harder to do everyday things, like walk, talk, eat and think. It's different for everyone and can be relentless, painful, and disabling.

*Add your experiences here*

I hope you will write to the Scottish Government and the Social justice and Social Security Committee to highlight the concerns I have raised with you.

Yours sincerely,

*Your name*

2. Use our form to send a message to your MSP

Go to our form and fill in the first page. On the second page paste the email into the template and personalise it with your experiences of the 20 metre rule.

On smart phones and tablets, it should suggest you can paste your copied text if you tap or select in the response box. On desktop you can use right click and select 'paste', or hold down the Cntrl and P buttons.

If you're using voice assisted technology or a screen reader and aren't sure what to do, or just need some help, email [email protected] 

Send your Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) a message