Pension Age Disability Payment | What is it and who is eligible?

Pension Age Disability Payment (PADP) is replacing Attendance Allowance for around 150,000 older people in Scotland.

What is Pension Age Disability Payment?

Pension Age Disability Payment is designed to help people aged 66 and over with a disability or long-term health condition who need extra assistance to keep them safe.

The benefit is designed to give additional financial support to people of State Pension age. The Scottish Government says that similarly to Attendance Allowance it will not include a mobility element.

People in England and Wales will continue to get Attendance Allowance.

How much is Pension Age Disability Payment

The benefit will pay the same rates as Attendance Allowance.

Lower rate: £72.65. You must need frequent help during the day or supervision at night.

Higher rate: £108.55. You must require care in both the day and night.

People who are terminally ill will automatically get the higher rate.

How do I know if I am eligible?

The eligibility criteria for the new State Pension age disability payment is pretty much the same as the eligibility criteria for Attendance Allowance.

But the Scottish Government has pledged to improve the application process and the collection of information about the person’s disability to ensure that people entitled to the benefit receive it.

The eligibility criteria for Attendance Allowance is currently:

• The person claiming the benefit needs to be of State Pension age which is currently 66 for both men and women.
• They need to have had their health condition for six months or longer and need additional support such as help with getting washed and dressed.
• The person has a disability or illness. This includes dementia and mental health issues.

Under the current rules, you do not have to spend Attendance Allowance on care and it is up to you how you use the money.

Face to face assessments

Similarly to the rollout of the Adult Disability Payment there will be no face to face assessments for this benefit.

The 32 local councils in Scotland will offer ‘dedicated support’ in a ‘person-centred approach’.

Gov.Scot says the application process will be inclusive and accessible.

People currently claiming Attendance Allowance

People who are currently in receipt of Attendance Allowance will be automatically transferred over to the new Pension Age Disability Payment in phases in 2024. They will not need to make a new claim and there will be no interruption to payments.

New claimants

There will be a phased pilot launch for new claimants of the Pension Age Disability Payment from Autumn 2024. This will be rolled out across Scotland in early 2025.

Initially, PADP is being piloted in five council areas: Aberdeen City, Argyll and Bute, Highland, Orkney and Shetland.

Pension Age Winter Heating Assistance

Social Security Scotland has said it will be launching Pension Age Winter Heating Assistance at the end of 2024.

You can find out if you are entitled to any other benefits here.

Disability benefits for under State Pension age

If you are aged between 18 and 66 and have a disability or long-term mental or physical health condition that affects your everyday life, you can apply for Adult Disability Payment. The Adult Disability Payment has replaced Personal Independence Payments (PIP) in Scotland.