Pension Age Disability Payment

What is Pension Age Disability Payment?

Attendance Allowance no longer exists as such in Scotland. It's been replaced by Pension Age Disability Payment, paid by Social Security Scotland rather than the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

The rollout is now complete. Pension Age Disability Payment launched in five pilot areas in October 2024, and became available across the whole of Scotland from the 22nd of April 2025. Anyone in Scotland reaching State Pension age now applies for Pension Age Disability Payment rather than Attendance Allowance, and everyone who was already getting Attendance Allowance has since had their award transferred over automatically, with no gap in payment and no action needed from them.

It can help the person we care for pay for the costs of meeting their care needs or staying in their own home, such as paying for taxis, a cleaner or a carer.

Is the person I care for eligible for Pension Age Disability Payment?

The person we care for may be eligible for Pension Age Disability Payment. They'll be assessed against the following criteria, and eligible if they:

Have reached State Pension age (currently 66). We can check their State Pension age here
Have a disability or long-term health condition
Need help or supervision with daily tasks because of it, during the day, at night, or both
Have needed that help for at least 26 weeks (waived if they're terminally ill)

If they've not had care needs for 26 weeks yet, they can still apply, and their award will start from 26 weeks after their care needs began, if successful.

If the person we care for lives in a care home and their care is paid for by the local council, it's unlikely they'll be eligible for Pension Age Disability Payment. But if they fund all of their own care costs, they may still apply.

If they already get Adult Disability Payment, they'll simply stay on it when they reach State Pension age rather than moving across to Pension Age Disability Payment.

If they live outside Scotland but have a genuine and sufficient link to it, for example having spent a significant part of their life there, they may still be able to have their Attendance Allowance award moved across to Pension Age Disability Payment, including from certain EU and EEA countries, Switzerland or Gibraltar.

How much is Pension Age Disability Payment per week?

Pension Age Disability Payment is split into two rates (2026/27):

Lower rate:
Help or supervision needed during the day or at night: £76.70 a week

Higher rate:
Help or supervision needed during the day and night, or automatic if terminally ill: £114.60 a week

How often is it paid?

If eligible, the person we care for will usually receive their Pension Age Disability Payment every four weeks, paid into their bank account. If they're terminally ill, it's paid weekly, in advance.

What's stayed the same as Attendance Allowance?

Pension Age Disability Payment carries over several of the features we may already know from Attendance Allowance:
- It's not means-tested, the income and savings of the person we care for don't affect it
- It's tax-free, and they can spend it however they choose
- There's no mobility component, the same as Attendance Allowance
- There are no face-to-face assessments
- It doesn't reduce other means-tested benefits, and can actually increase entitlement to them

What's different about applying in Scotland?

A few things work differently now the payment is run by Social Security Scotland rather than the DWP:

The application has two parts, and part two must be completed within eight weeks of part one
Social Security Scotland offers face-to-face support from local teams based in communities across the country, alongside phone and online options
There's a separate, accelerated application process for anyone with a terminal diagnosis, whatever their prognosis, which is a wider definition than the DWP uses for Attendance Allowance

Is there financial support for me, as their carer?

Pension Age Disability Payment is paid to the person we care for, not to us. But if they get Pension Age Disability Payment at the right rate, and we care for them for 35 hours a week or more, we may be able to claim Carer Support Payment and the Scottish Carer Supplement ourselves. Since March 2026, there's also a Carer Additional Person Payment for unpaid carers looking after more than one person.

Carer Support Payment isn't only for carers of people on Pension Age Disability Payment though, it covers a much wider group of unpaid carers. Read our full guide to Carer Support Payment to check if we're eligible.

We may also be eligible for Carer's Credit. Find out if we're eligible using our speedy checker tool.

How can I support the person I care for to apply for Pension Age Disability Payment?

We can support the person we care for to apply in a number of ways:

Help them apply online, or by phone and post.
Practical and technical support, such as gathering evidence or requesting a paper form.
Drafting their answers with them, helping them organise their thoughts and identify all their care needs.
Emotional support. Answering questions about someone's disability in detail can be emotionally difficult.

The person we care for must have the mental capacity to make their own application, or we'll need the legal capacity to act on their behalf, such as Power of Attorney, as their deputy, or as an appointee, if they lack capacity.

What if the person I care for won't complete the application?

In some situations, the person we care for may be unable or unwilling to apply, particularly around a new diagnosis.

Understandably, these emotions and mental battles are very valid and hard to process, both for us and the person we care for. This can be very frustrating and can take some time, but we're definitely not on our own.

It may help to talk through the situation with a trusted friend, or our local carers' centre. Talking through the challenge can identify some key next steps that will help us inch forward, and feel a little more in control.

Top tips for completing the Pension Age Disability Payment application

The application has two parts, and it's not as daunting as it looks if we have the right help. This could be a family member or friend. We might want to tackle part one, then come back to part two on another day.

1. Don't be put off!

2. Take a look at what help is out there

Carers have found their local Citizens Advice Bureau helpful in completing the application. Social Security Scotland's own local teams and the independent advocacy service VoiceAbility can also help, and we can check whether our local carers' centre offers support too. British Sign Language users can contact Social Security Scotland by video call through Contact Scotland BSL.

3. Describe their worst day

It's important that we help the person we care for describe their worst day, so the application reflects all of their challenges.

4. Get evidence

A supporting letter from a social worker, support group, or GP can be sent along with the application, although it's not always required.

5. Take copies of everything

Just in case anything goes missing in the post or the system.

6. Keep a record of contact

If applying by post, keep copies of everything sent. If applying online or by phone, keep a note of dates and who we spoke to, for peace of mind and an audit trail.

Applying for Pension Age Disability Payment

There are usually two parts to the application, and part two must be completed within eight weeks of part one, unless the person we care for is terminally ill, in which case there's a faster, single-stage process open to anyone with a terminal diagnosis, whatever their prognosis.

Online: start the application by clicking here, submit part one within 14 days, then part two within eight weeks (we can ask for more time if needed).

Phone and paper: call Social Security Scotland free on 0800 182 2222 (8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday) to start part one. They'll send a paper form for part two, along with a prepaid return envelope.

If the person we care for already gets Attendance Allowance and lives in Scotland, they don't need to apply, Social Security Scotland will move them across automatically.

Pension Age Disability Payment change of circumstance

If the person we care for experiences a change in their care needs, they may be eligible for a different rate by reporting their change of circumstance to Social Security Scotland.

When does Pension Age Disability Payment stop?

If the person we care for goes into hospital for NHS treatment, or a care home funded by the local council, their Pension Age Disability Payment reduces to zero after 28 days (short stays within 28 days of each other are added together). It starts again once they come home, they'll need to let Social Security Scotland know.

If the person we care for dies, we can use the 'Tell us once' service, which will make the necessary arrangements.

If the person we care for has recently passed away, please accept our condolences. With the wisdom of other carers, we've created a guide, pulling together resources on what support is available when the person we care for dies.

Pension Age Disability Payment phone number

The contact number for Social Security Scotland is 0800 182 2222.

They're open Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm. As someone looking after our family member or friend, we can ask to speak on their behalf. British Sign Language users can contact Social Security Scotland by video call through Contact Scotland BSL.

Can Pension Age Disability Payment be backdated?

If successful, Pension Age Disability Payment is paid from the date the application started, whether that's the date part one was submitted online, or the date of the phone call that began the application.

Can Pension Age Disability Payment be paid if the person I care for goes into a care home or hospital?

It's important to tell Social Security Scotland if the person we care for goes into a care home or hospital.

Pension Age Disability Payment reduces to zero after the person we care for has spent 28 days in a care home funded by the local council, or in hospital for NHS treatment, unless they're funding all of their own care home fees.

Does Pension Age Disability Payment affect Pension Credit?

Pension Age Disability Payment isn't counted as income, so it won't affect the Pension Credit of the person we care for.

It's not taxable and isn't means-tested, so the earnings or savings of the person we care for don't affect how much they can receive.

In fact, if the person we care for receives Pension Age Disability Payment, they may see a reduction in council tax, or an increase in Pension Credit or Housing Benefit.

Can the person I care for apply for Pension Age Disability Payment and Adult Disability Payment?

If the person we care for already gets Adult Disability Payment, they'll stay on it when they reach State Pension age rather than moving to Pension Age Disability Payment.

Guide to Scottish Pension Age Disability Payment

Everything there is to know about Pension Age Disability Payment