New benefit for people over State Pension age with health issues opens in five council areas

Linda Howard
·5-min read

People over State Pension age resident in five local authority areas in Scotland can now make a claim for a new disability benefit that will gradually replace Attendance Allowance for people living north of the border only. Applications for Pension Age Disability Payment (PADP) are now being accepted in Argyll and Bute, Highland, Aberdeen City, Orkney and Shetland.

The benefit will become available in 13 more local authority areas in March next year before rolling out nationwide across Scotland by April, 2025. Pension Age Disability Benefit is for people over 66 who have a disability, long-term health condition or have been diagnosed terminally ill, which means they need help looking after themselves or supervision to stay safe.

READ MORE: Full list of benefits and one-off payments only people living in Scotland can claim

READ MORE: New update for nearly 144,000 pensioners on Attendance Allowance due to transfer from DWP next year

PADP is tax-free, not means-tested and will be paid at the same rates as its Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) counterpart. This means it will be worth either £72.65 (lower rate) if you need help during the day or at night or £108.55 (higher rate) if you need help during the day and at night, or if you are terminally ill.

People who currently receive Attendance Allowance will be automatically moved from the DWP benefits platform to the Social Security Scotland system. This will happen in phases, with the first benefit awards expected to be transferred in early 2025.

The latest figures from the DWP show nearly 144,000 people living in Scotland are currently in receipt of Attendance Allowance. Existing claimants do not need to apply for the devolved benefit as awards will be automatically transferred and there will be no breaks in payments during the transition.

The Scottish Government said Pension Age Disability Payment has been designed with the help of people who will be eligible for the benefit and those who support them. Improvements include a streamlined process for people to nominate a third party representative who can support them to communicate with Social Security Scotland.

A fast-track process will be put in place for applicants diagnosed with a terminal illness.

Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville welcomed the rollout, saying it is “more important than ever that older disabled people across Scotland get all the financial support they are entitled to” due to the cost of living.

She continued: “This new benefit has been developed by listening to older disabled people and we have made many changes, including making it easier for them to nominate someone to support them in their engagement with Social Security Scotland, something they told us was important to them. I would encourage anyone who thinks they are eligible for pension age disability payment to apply.

“It’s important they get the money they need to help them look after themselves, stay safe and get support to live with the dignity and respect that we all deserve as we get older.”

Debbie Horne, the Scotland policy and public affairs manager at Independent Age, said support for the costs associated with a disability “are an essential part” of the social security system.

She continued: “Putting dignity and respect at the heart of how the payment is delivered is essential. We hope changes made to the payment, such as making it simpler for people at the end of their life to get support, result in an improved experience for older people applying for the payment in Scotland.”

Tommy Campbell, an executive committee member at the Scottish Pensioners’ Forum, said: “We support many people of stage pension age and over with long-term health conditions such as dementia, Alzheimer’s and arthritis who would really benefit from this financial support.

“We hope that the rollout of this pilot programme over the coming months will demonstrate and deliver on this.”

Pension Age Disability Payment rollout timetable

Available to claim now for people living in:

  • Argyll and Bute

  • Highland

  • Aberdeen City

  • Orkney

  • Shetland

From March 24, 2025:

  • Aberdeenshire

  • East Ayrshire

  • North Ayrshire

  • South Ayrshire

  • Na h-Eileanan Siar (Western Isles)

  • Stirling

  • Clackmannanshire

  • Falkirk

  • Fife

  • Angus

  • Dundee City

  • Perth & Kinross

  • Moray

From April 22, 2025:

  • Nationwide rollout across Scotland

Eligibility for Pension Age Disability Payment

New guidance on mygov.scot provides full details on who can claim, how to claim, additional help available, what happens after a claim is submitted and extra support for successful claimants. Find out more here.

You can apply for Pension Age Disability Payment if you have both:

  • Reached State Pension age (66)

  • Had care needs during the day or night for 6 months or more because of a disability or health condition

You can still apply if:

  • You have not had care needs for 6 months or more - your award will begin 6 months from when your care needs started if your application is successful

  • You are waiting for, or do not have, a diagnosis

  • You have a terminal illness - there is a separate fast-track application process if you’re terminally ill

It's important to be aware that you cannot get Pension Age Disability Payment and Attendance Allowance at the same time. Existing claimants will automatically move to Pension Age Disability Payment - Social Security Scotland will do this and you will not have to do anything.

If you get Disability Living Allowance (DLA), you do not need to do anything. Your benefit will move to Social Security Scotland.

Payment rates for Pension Age Disability Payment

Social Security Scotland will provide Pension Age Disability Payment at the same weekly rate as Attendance Allowance. It is also currently doing this for the devolved Child Disability Payment and Adult Disability Payment.

The current weekly payment rates for Attendance Allowance are:

  • Lower rate - £72.65

  • Higher rate - £108.55

How do I apply for the Pension Age Disability Payment?

You can only apply for the new disability assistance benefit if it has opened in your area. You can check on the dedicated pages on mygov.scot here.

Anyone over State Pension age with a disability that means they need assistance with looking after themselves, or supervision to keep them safe, should continue to apply for Attendance Allowance through the DWP.

Get support making a claim from an independent advocate

Help is also available from the independent advocacy service VoiceAbility, which is funded by the Scottish Government, to help disabled people applying for devolved benefits.

It provides a free, nationwide advocacy service supporting disabled people to access Social Security Scotland benefits.

If you need an advocate, you should:

  • contact Social Security Scotland for free on 0800 182 2222

  • ask them to refer you to the Independent Advocacy Service

Full contact details can be found here.

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