Pension Age Disability Payment is replacing Attendance Allowance in Scotland – it is worth between £72.65 and £108.55 a week
A new benefit that is replacing Attendance Allowance in Scotland is being rolled out to 13 more postcode areas from next month.
Pension Age Disability Payment is worth between £72.65 and £108.55 a week and is paid to people over state pension age who need extra help because of an illness or disability. The lower rate is awarded to people who need help during the day or night, while the higher rate is for people who need help during the day and night.
If you’re terminally ill you’ll automatically get the higher rate. Attendance Allowance is paid by the Department for Work and Pensions, but the new Pension Age Disability Payment benefit will be paid by Social Security Scotland. It has already replaced Attendance Allowance in Argyll and Bute, Highland, Aberdeen City, Orkney and Shetland, but will become available in the following places from March 24:
- Aberdeenshire
- East Ayrshire
- North Ayrshire
- South Ayrshire
- Na h-Eileanan Siar (Western Isles)
- Stirling
- Clackmannanshire
- Falkirk
- Fife
- Angus
- Dundee City
- Perth & Kinross
- Moray
Pension Age Disability Payment will then be rolled out nationwide in Scotland from April 22. If you claim Attendance Allowance in Scotland, you’ll be automatically moved to Pension Age Disability Payment. Your payments won’t be disrupted and you won’t need to contact the DWP to have your benefit stopped.
A page on mygov.scot explains: “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.”
If you get Adult Disability Payment, you’ll stay on this when you reach state pension age. Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “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, Scotland Policy and Public Affairs Manager at Independent Age, said: “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.
“We encourage all older people living in the pilot areas who may be eligible for Pension Age Disability Payment to apply, or get in touch with an independent advice service, such as Independent Age, who can help to ensure older people in Scotland receive all of the support they are entitled to.”
