No face-to-face assessments for new benefit replacing Attendance Allowance

Linda Howard
·4-min read

The Scottish Government announced earlier this year that a new devolved disability payment designed to provide additional financial support for people of State Pension age will not include a mobility component. However, it has also confirmed the new benefit will not include any face-to-face assessments as part of the application process - unless requested by the claimant.

Pension Age Disability Payment will replace Attendance Allowance in certain council areas until March when it will roll out nationwide across Scotland. Nearly 144,000 people living in Scotland already receiving either £72.65 or £108.55 each week through Attendance Allowance from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), will not need to apply for the new benefit and will be transferred in stages to the Social Security Scotland IT system.

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Pension Age Disability Payment will support people over 66 who have a disability that means they need assistance with looking after themselves, or supervision to keep them safe. The Scottish Government said it has been designed with the help of people who will be eligible for the benefit and those who support them.

It is tax-free, not affected by income or savings and will be paid at the same rates as its DWP counterpart. Improvements include a streamlined process for people to nominate a third party representative who can support them to communicate with Social Security Scotland.

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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