How to apply for Pension Age Disability Payment

There are usually 2 parts to the application for Pension Age Disability Payment. If you’re applying for someone who is terminally ill there is only 1 part. This is to make the process faster.

You can apply online or by phone and paper.

Check if applications are open in your area

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

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

To check if applications are open in your area, use the 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.

Online

To apply online:

1. Check if you can apply.

2. Start your online application through myaccount.

3. Submit part 1 within 14 days (2 weeks).

4. Submit part 2 within 56 days (8 weeks) – you can ask for more time if you need it.

Check if you can apply

Help to apply online

If you have not used myaccount before, you’ll need to:

• register with a user name and password

• give some personal details

Myaccount lets you save your application as you go. That means you don’t have to complete it all at once.

You can only have one online application open at a time.

If you do not submit part 2 of your application within 8 weeks Social Security Scotland will:

• assume you do not want to complete your application
• delete your application within 90 days from the date you started it to protect your personal data

If you need more time to complete part 2 or are having difficulty completing it, contact Social Security Scotland.

Phone and paper

To apply by phone and paper:

1. Call Social Security Scotland free on 0800 182 2222. They’re open from 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
2. The adviser you speak to will take some details to start your part 1 application.
3. Social Security Scotland will send you a part 2 paper application form and a prepaid return envelope.
4. Complete and return your form within 8 weeks or ask for more time if you need it.

If you’re applying for someone who’s terminally ill, you can complete the whole application over the phone.

If you're a British Sign Language user, you can use the Contact Scotland service to contact Social Security Scotland. 

If you already get Attendance Allowance

Social Security Scotland will move your benefit to Pension Age Disability Payment without you having to do anything.

There will be no gap in your entitlement or change to your award.

You do not need to make a new application for Pension Age Disability Payment if you already get Attendance Allowance.

You cannot get Pension Age Disability Payment and Attendance Allowance at the same time.

You’ll keep getting Attendance Allowance until your Pension Age Disability Payment starts.

If you applied for Attendance Allowance but should have applied for Pension Age Disability Payment

The Department for Work and Pensions will send your Attendance Allowance application to Social Security Scotland.

Social Security Scotland will:

• use it as an application for Pension Age Disability Payment
• make a decision about your application

You’ll get your payments from the date you applied for Attendance Allowance, if your application is successful.

You will not need to complete a separate Pension Age Disability Payment application.

If you apply for Pension Age Disability Payment using an Attendance Allowance application

If you send an Attendance Allowance application to Social Security Scotland, they’ll use it as an application for Pension Age Disability Payment.

You do not need to complete a separate Pension Age Disability Payment application.