Pensioners with long-term health issues could be due up to £5,750 this year
People of State Pension age could receive additional financial support through Attendance Allowance or a new devolved benefit.
Pension Credit – Could you or someone you know be eligible?
Nearly 1.7 million people over State Pension age across Great Britain, including 150,000 in Scotland, will receive up to £1,362 each month through Attendance Allowance or Pension Age Disability Payment (PADP). The payments are made independently of the State Pension, which is now worth up to £921 every four weeks.
Attendance Allowance and PADP are not means-tested and now worth either £73.90 for the lower rate or £110.40 for the higher rate each week, and as the benefit is usually paid every four weeks, this amounts to either £295.60 or £441.60 every pay period.
Pensioners on either of these disability benefits could increase their annual income by up to £5,740 over the 2025/26 financial year. The State Pension, Attendance Allowance and PADP all qualify for the annual £10 DWP Christmas Bonus in December, though it's important to be aware only one payment of £10 is issued.
Attendance Allowance and PADP can help with the extra costs of living independently in their own home with a disability, long-term illness or physical or mental health condition.
The full New State Pension is now worth £230.25 per week and as the payment is typically made every four weeks this amounts to £921. Annual payments are now worth £11,973.
However, it's important to be aware that not all of the 4.1m people on the New State Pension receive the full amount as it is linked to National Insurance Contributions.
The full Basic State Pension is now worth £176.45 per week, or £705.80 every four-week payment period. Annual payments are worth £9,175.40.
How much someone receives for Attendance Allowance or PADP depends on the level of support needed and the benefit is designed to help people of State Pension age with daily living expenses which can also help them stay independent in their own home for longer.
It's important to be aware there is no mobility component attached to Attendance Allowance or PADP.
Health conditions supported by Attendance Allowance and PADP
The conditions listed below are sourced from information recorded on the DWP's Attendance Allowance computer system. PADP also supports people with these conditions.
It's important to note this list is not a checklist for claiming Attendance Allowance or PADP, it is intended to help people understand what type of conditions are being supported. However, if you need extra support during the day or night due to a long-term illness, disability or health condition, you should check out the official eligibility guidance for Attendance Allowance on the GOV.UK website here.
Main health conditions providing support to older people across Great Britain
Arthritis
Spondylosis
Back Pain
Disease Of The Muscles, Bones or Joints
Trauma to Limbs
Visual Disorders and Diseases
Hearing Disorders
Heart Disease
Respiratory Disorders and Diseases
Asthma
Cystic Fibrosis
Cerebrovascular Disease
Peripheral vascular Disease
Epilepsy
Neurological Diseases
Multiple Sclerosis
Parkinsons Disease
Motor Neurone Disease
Chronic Pain Syndromes
Diabetes Mellitus
Metabolic Disease
Traumatic Paraplegia/Tetraplegia
Major Trauma Other than Traumatic Paraplegia/Tetraplegia
Learning Difficulties
Psychosis
Psychoneurosis
Personality Disorder
Dementia
Behavioural Disorder
Alcohol and Drug Abuse
Hyperkinetic Syndrome
Renal Disorders
Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Bowel and Stomach Disease
Blood Disorders
Haemophilia
Multi System Disorders
Multiple Allergy Syndrome
Skin Disease
Malignant Disease
Severely Mentally impaired
Double Amputee
Deaf/Blind
Haemodialysis
Frailty
Total Parenteral Nutrition
AIDS
Infectious diseases: Viral disease - Coronavirus covid-19
The Scottish Government said PADP has been designed with the help of people who will be eligible for the benefit and those who support them. Improvements include a streamlined process for people to nominate a third party representative who can support them to communicate with Social Security Scotland.
A fast-track process will be put in place for applicants diagnosed with a terminal illness.
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 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
Full contact details can be found here.
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