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Pension Age Disability Payment

What Pension Age Disability Payment is

Pension Age Disability Payment can give you extra money if you have both:

  • care needs because of a disability or long-term health condition
  • reached State Pension age

Pension Age Disability Payment is replacing Attendance Allowance in Scotland. You do not need to do anything if you already get Attendance Allowance. You cannot get Pension Age Disability Payment and Attendance Allowance at the same time.

It’s paid at 2 different rates, lower and higher. The amount you get depends on your care needs.

Lower rate is £72.65 a week. It’s for people who need help or supervision during the day or night.

Higher rate is £108.55 a week. It’s for people who need help or supervision during the day and night.

If you’re terminally ill you’ll automatically get the higher rate.

Pension Age Disability Payment is not means-tested. Your income and savings are not taken into account. They will not affect any award you might get.

You do not need to have someone caring for you in order to get Pension Age Disability Payment. If someone does care you for, they could get Carer Support Payment.

When you can apply

When you can apply will depend on where you live. The payment is opening for new applications in stages across Scottish council areas.

You can apply for Pension Age Disability Payment now if you live in:

  • Aberdeen City
  • Argyll and Bute
  • Highland
  • Orkney
  • Shetland

You’ll be able to apply from 24 March 2025 if you live in:

  • Aberdeenshire
  • Angus
  • Clackmannanshire
  • Dundee City
  • East Ayrshire
  • Falkirk
  • Fife
  • Moray
  • Na h-Eileanan Siar (Western Isles)
  • North Ayrshire
  • Perth and Kinross
  • South Ayrshire
  • Stirling

To check if applications are open in your area, go to the Pension Age Disability Payment postcode checker.

If applications are not open in your area, you can apply for Attendance Allowance from the Department for Work and Pensions.

Pension Age Disability Payment will be available to every area in Scotland from 22 April 2025.

If you already get Attendance Allowance

You do not need to apply for Pension Age Disability Payment if you live in Scotland and get Attendance Allowance.

Social Security Scotland will:

  • move you to Pension Age Disability Payment without you having to do anything in 2025
  • send you a letter telling you what will happen when you transfer

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will continue to pay you Attendance Allowance until Social Security Scotland start to pay you. You do not need to contact DWP to have your benefit stopped.

If you already get Adult Disability Payment

If you already get Adult Disability Payment, you’ll stay on it when you reach State Pension age. You will not transfer to Pension Age Disability Payment.

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