New health benefit set to replace attendance allowance for pensioners this month

THE CHANGE FOR NEW AND EXISTING CLAIMANTS WILL ONLY IMPACT PEOPLE WITH A SCOTTISH POSTCODE. 10:36, 07 Apr 2025Updated 14:29, 08 Apr 2025 A new devolved benefit will replace all new claims

for Attendance Allowance in Scotland before the end of this month. People over State Pension age with a disability or long-term health condition will be able to make a claim for Pension Age

Disability Payment (PADP) from April 22. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) recently confirmed people over State Pension age living in 17 council areas north of the border can no

longer make a new claim for Attendance Allowance. Instead, people living in Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Argyll and Bute, Ayrshire, Clackmannanshire, Dundee City, Falkirk, Fife,

Highland, Moray, Na h-Eileanan Siar (Western Isles), Orkney and Shetland Islands, Perth and Kinross and Stirling, must claim PADP. The payment is only available to people with a Scottish

postcode and does not affect anyone on Attendance Allowance living in England or Wales. READ MORE: Older people can claim two benefits which boost annual income by over £10,000 this yearREAD

MORE: Pensioners with any of these 48 health conditions could be due up to £441 each month Social Security Scotland also confirmed it has started transferring the awards of 169,000 existing

claimants to the new benefit. People currently getting Attendance Allowance do not need to take any action - the transfer will happen automatically in phases throughout 2025. Everyone will

continue to receive their payments on time and in the right amount and there will be no breaks in payment during the move. PADP is for disabled older people or those with a long-term health

condition which means they need help looking after themselves or supervision to help them stay safe in heir own home. It is only available to people of State Pension age and is also

available to pensioners who are terminally ill. PADP is not means-tested and now worth between £295 and £441 a month depending on the needs of the person who gets it. At the start of the

latest rollout in March, Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “I urge anyone who thinks they could be eligible for Pension Age Disability Payment to apply. “It is vital

older people who are disabled, terminally ill people or who have care needs get the money they need to help them look after themselves, stay safe and live with dignity. “The Scottish

Government is committed to ensuring everyone gets the financial support they’re entitled to and this has not changed following the UK Government’s announcement on welfare.” Henry Simmons,

Alzheimer Scotland’s Chief Executive said: “It’s great to see Pension Age Disability Payment being rolled out across more areas. At Alzheimer Scotland, we know that living with dementia

leads to extra costs so it’s important that those affected can access the financial support they need, when they need it. “The application support that Social Security Scotland provides is

vital for people who are already dealing with the emotional and practical challenges of living with dementia. “The availability of this support will make a positive difference to people

living with dementia, improving their ability to live well with their condition.” ELIGIBILITY FOR PENSION AGE DISABILITY PAYMENT Guidance on mygov.scot provides full details on who can

claim, how to claim, additional help available, what happens after a claim is submitted and extra support for successful claimants. Find out more here. YOU CAN APPLY FOR PENSION AGE

DISABILITY PAYMENT IF YOU HAVE BOTH: * Reached State Pension age (66) * Had care needs during the day or night for 6 months or more because of a disability or health condition YOU CAN STILL

APPLY IF: * You have not had care needs for 6 months or more - your award will begin 6 months from when your care needs started if your application is successful * You are waiting for, or do

not have, a diagnosis * You have a terminal illness - there is a separate fast-track application process if you’re terminally ill It's important to be aware you cannot get Pension Age

Disability Payment and Attendance Allowance at the same time. Existing claimants will automatically move to Pension Age Disability Payment - Social Security Scotland will do this and you

will not have to do anything. If you get Disability Living Allowance (DLA), you do not need to do anything. Your benefit will move to Social Security Scotland. PAYMENT RATES FOR PENSION AGE

DISABILITY PAYMENT Social Security Scotland will provide Pension Age Disability Payment at the same weekly rate as Attendance Allowance. It is also currently doing this for the devolved

Child Disability Payment and Adult Disability Payment. THE CURRENT WEEKLY PAYMENT RATES FOR ATTENDANCE ALLOWANCE ARE: * Lower rate - £73.90 * Higher rate - £110.40 HOW DO I APPLY FOR THE

PENSION AGE DISABILITY PAYMENT? You can only apply for the new disability assistance benefit if it has opened in your area. You can check on the dedicated pages on mygov.scot here. Anyone

over State Pension age with a disability that means they need assistance with looking after themselves, or supervision to keep them safe, should continue to apply for Attendance Allowance

through the DWP. GET SUPPORT MAKING A CLAIM FROM AN INDEPENDENT ADVOCATE Help is also available from the independent advocacy service VoiceAbility, which is funded by the Scottish

Government, to help disabled people applying for devolved benefits. It provides a free, nationwide advocacy service supporting disabled people to access Social Security Scotland benefits. IF

YOU NEED AN ADVOCATE, YOU SHOULD: * contact Social Security Scotland for free on 0800 182 2222 * ask them to refer you to the Independent Advocacy Service Article continues below Full

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