Pensioners claiming new health benefit could get payment decision in six days
Pension Credit – Could you or someone you know be eligible?
New figures from Social Security Scotland show there were 1,875 people over 66 receiving Pension Age Disability Payments (PADP), the new devolved benefit that has now replaced all claims for Attendance Allowance north of the border.
People of State Pension age with a disability, long-term illness or health condition could be eligible for the lower rate of £73.90 if they need help during the day or at night, or the higher rate of £110.40, if they need help during the day and at night, or if they are terminally ill.
For anyone thinking about making a new claim, the latest data indicates the average processing time - from point of application to decision award letter - is currently six working days. For those applying with a terminal illness it is one working day.
This means people submitting a new claim this week could receive a letter or an email before next weekend. However, it's important to be aware that complex cases may take longer and as awareness about the new benefit grows, that timeframe will undoubtedly increase.
Insights from Social Security Scotland also shows the most common age of claimants is currently over 75. It also reveals that of the 2,575 applications processed - with a decision made by April 30 - 77 per cent were authorised, 11 per cent were denied and 11 per cent were withdrawn.
Most successful applicants received the higher rate.
Of all authorised applications, 79 per cent were awarded the higher level of 110.40 per week and 21 per cent were awarded the lower level of £73.90 over the period to 30 April 2025.
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. As already mentioned, this takes just one working day on average to process.
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.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wales Online
an hour ago
- Wales Online
DWP pays £749 a month in PIP for these 87 muscle and joint conditions
DWP pays £749 a month in PIP for these 87 muscle and joint conditions Personal Independence Payment is a benefit for people who need help with everyday tasks. Here are the 87 muscle and joint conditions that could let you claim it The amount of PIP you could receive depends entirely on how your health condition or disability impacts your life (Image: Keeproll via Getty Images ) Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a benefit scheme intended for people requiring additional assistance with daily activities due to an illness, disability or mental health condition. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) pays up to £749.80 every four weeks under this scheme. Importantly, PIP is not an unemployment benefit, meaning you could be eligible even if you are currently employed. The amount of PIP you could receive depends entirely on how your health condition or disability impacts your life. There is no definitive list of conditions that qualify you for PIP. DWP data reveals that over one million adults with musculoskeletal conditions receive PIP, out of the 3.7 million total claimants. Musculoskeletal conditions refer to injuries and disorders affecting the body's movement or musculoskeletal system, including muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, discs and blood vessels, reports the Mirror. Experts reveal how to treat 'most common symptom known to humankind' (Image: Getty Images ) PIP comprises two components - a daily living rate and a mobility rate - and you may be entitled to either or both. If you qualify for both the enhanced rate of the daily living allowance and the mobility allowance, you would receive £749.80 per month. Daily Living Article continues below Standard rate: £73.90 a week a week Enhanced rate: £110.40 a week Mobility Standard rate: £29.20 a week a week Enhanced rate: £77.05 a week List of 87 musculoskeletal conditions which could get you PIP General conditions Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis of Hip Osteoarthritis of Knee Osteoarthritis of other single joint Primary generalised Osteoarthritis Chronic pain syndrome Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) Fibromyalgia Pain syndromes - Chronic - Other / type not known Inflammatory arthritis Ankylosing spondylitis Arthritis - Psoriatic Arthritis - Reactive Inflammatory arthritis - Other / type not known Juvenile chronic arthritis (Still's disease) Rheumatoid arthritis Crystal deposition disorders Crystal deposition disorders - Other / type not known Gout Pseudogout Osteonecrosis and osteochondritis Osteochondritis Osteonecrosis Metabolic and endocrine disorders Osteomalacia Osteoporosis Other metabolic and endocrine disorders of musculoskeletal system Paget's disease Rickets Genetic disorders, dysplasias and malformations Achondroplasia Epiphyseal dysplasia - multiple Genetic disorders, dysplasias and malformations - Other / type not known Hereditary multiple exostosis (diaphyseal aclasis) Hypermobility syndrome Marfan's syndrome Osteogenesis imperfecta Benign tumours of bone Tumours of bone - benign Fracture complications Compartment syndrome (Volkmann's ischaemia) Fracture complications - Other / type not known Sudek's atrophy Other generalised musculoskeletal conditions Generalised musculoskeletal disease - Other / type not known Regional conditions Shoulder disorders Adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder) Rotator cuff disorder Shoulder disorders - Other / type not known Shoulder instability Elbow disorders Elbow disorders - Other / type not known Golfers elbow (medial epicondylitis) Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) Wrist and hand disorders Carpal tunnel syndrome Dupuytren's contracture Tendon lesions Tenosynovitis Wrist and hand disorders - Other / type not known Neck disorders Cervical disc lesion Cervical spondylosis Neck disorders - Other / type not known Whiplash injury Non specific back pain Back pain - Non specific (mechanical) Specific back pain Back pain - Specific - Other / type not known Kyphosis Lumbar disc lesion Lumbar spondylosis (OA spine) Schuermann's disease Scoliosis Spinal stenosis Spondylolisthesis Hip disorders Dislocation of the hip - congenital Hip disorders - Other / type not known Perthes disease Slipped upper femoral epiphysis Knee disorders Bursitis Chondromalacia patellae Knee disorders - Other / type not known Ligamentous instability of knee Meniscal lesions Osgood schlatters disease Osteochondritis dissecans Patellar dislocation - Recurrent Ankle and foot disorders Ankle and foot disorders - Other / type not known Club foot (talipes) Fore foot pain (Metatarsalgia) Hallux valgus /rigidus Amputations Amputation - Lower limb(s) Amputation - Upper limb(s) Amputations - Upper & Lower limb/s Injuries/fracture/Dislocation Abdomen - Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation of Lower limb - Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation of Multiple - Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation Pelvis - Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation of Spine - Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation of Thorax - Injury/Fracture/Dislocation of Upper limb - Injury/Fracture/Dislocation of Article continues below Other regional musculoskeletal disease
Wales Online
19 hours ago
- Wales Online
DWP PIP claimants may be able to increase payments by over £630 a month
New data from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) reveals that as of April's end, approximately 420,000 individuals on Personal Independence Payment (PIP) were having their claims reviewed. This includes 380,000 award reviews and 40,000 changes in circumstances. Currently, over 3.7 million people across England and Wales are claiming PIP. However, many individuals not receiving the maximum PIP may be unaware that if their. condition has worsened and they require more assistance with daily living tasks or mobility needs, or both, they could potentially increase their monthly payments. PIP is designed to assist people with a disability, long-term illness, or physical or mental health condition with additional daily living or mobility costs. A successful claim for PIP can result in weekly payments ranging from £29.20 to £187.45, equating to between £116.80 and £749.80 every four-week pay period. The significant discrepancy between the payments is due to the various combinations of the daily living and mobility component rates that a claimant could receive, reports the Daily Record. Someone could be awarded the highest rate of both and receive the maximum, £749.80 every four-week pay period, or the standard rate of both, £412.40. Similarly, someone may only be entitled to the standard rate of the daily living component - £73.90 per week, £295.60 every four weeks or the standard rate of the mobility component - £29.20 per week, £116.80 every four weeks. Someone on the standard rate of the mobility component (£116.80 every four weeks), with a change in their circumstances, such as a worsening condition or additional health issues, could potentially receive the higher rates of both the daily living and mobility components. This would result in payments of £749.80 every four weeks, an increase of £633. Increasing payments from the standard rate to the higher, could boost annual income to £9,747.40 over 2025/26. In another example, someone currently getting the standard rate of both components (£412.40 per four-week pay period) who reports a change and is awarded the higher rate of both the daily living and mobility components (£749.80), would gain an extra £337.40 each month, some £4,386 over the current financial year. It's important to be aware that reporting a change in circumstances to DWP or Social Security Scotland does not guarantee an increase in award. Each case is unique and no single condition affects two people in the same way. PIP payment rates PIP is are paid at the following amounts per week depending on your circumstances:. Daily living Standard rate: £73.90 Enhanced rate: £110.40 Mobility Standard rate: £29.20 Enhanced rate: £77.05 Reporting a change - PIP The most important thing to understand about the PIP new claim and review process is awards are based on how your condition, long-term illness or disability affects you - not the actual condition itself. The DWP makes this distinction clear in the current edition of the online PIP Handbook. The guidance on explains: 'As the assessment principles consider the impact of a claimant's condition on their ability to live independently and not the condition itself, claimants with the same condition may get different outcomes. The outcome is based on an independent assessment and all available evidence.' Before contacting the DWP to report a change in your circumstances, it's important to be aware depending on the change, your PIP could go up, go down, stay the same or stop. Guidance on states you should contact the PIP if: you need more or less help with daily living and mobility tasks your health professional tells you your condition will last for a longer or shorter time than you reported before your condition has worsened and you're not expected to live more than 12 months How to report a PIP change Call the 'PIP enquiry line' on 0800 121 4433, lines are open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm. Full guidance on reporting a change can be found on here. Before making any request, seek independent advice from organisations such as the Citizens Advice Network because while an award review could result in an increase in payments, it could also see them reduced or even stopped. Find out more here. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox Find out what's happening near you
North Wales Live
20 hours ago
- North Wales Live
DWP PIP claimants may be able to increase payments by over £630 a month
New data from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) reveals that as of April's end, approximately 420,000 individuals on Personal Independence Payment (PIP) were having their claims reviewed. This includes 380,000 award reviews and 40,000 changes in circumstances. Currently, over 3.7 million people across England and Wales are claiming PIP. However, many individuals not receiving the maximum PIP may be unaware that if their. condition has worsened and they require more assistance with daily living tasks or mobility needs, or both, they could potentially increase their monthly payments. PIP is designed to assist people with a disability, long-term illness, or physical or mental health condition with additional daily living or mobility costs. A successful claim for PIP can result in weekly payments ranging from £29.20 to £187.45, equating to between £116.80 and £749.80 every four-week pay period. The significant discrepancy between the payments is due to the various combinations of the daily living and mobility component rates that a claimant could receive, reports the Daily Record. Someone could be awarded the highest rate of both and receive the maximum, £749.80 every four-week pay period, or the standard rate of both, £412.40. Similarly, someone may only be entitled to the standard rate of the daily living component - £73.90 per week, £295.60 every four weeks or the standard rate of the mobility component - £29.20 per week, £116.80 every four weeks. Someone on the standard rate of the mobility component (£116.80 every four weeks), with a change in their circumstances, such as a worsening condition or additional health issues, could potentially receive the higher rates of both the daily living and mobility components. This would result in payments of £749.80 every four weeks, an increase of £633. Increasing payments from the standard rate to the higher, could boost annual income to £9,747.40 over 2025/26. In another example, someone currently getting the standard rate of both components (£412.40 per four-week pay period) who reports a change and is awarded the higher rate of both the daily living and mobility components (£749.80), would gain an extra £337.40 each month, some £4,386 over the current financial year. It's important to be aware that reporting a change in circumstances to DWP or Social Security Scotland does not guarantee an increase in award. Each case is unique and no single condition affects two people in the same way. PIP payment rates PIP is are paid at the following amounts per week depending on your circumstances:. Daily living Standard rate: £73.90 Enhanced rate: £110.40 Mobility Standard rate: £29.20 Enhanced rate: £77.05 Reporting a change - PIP The most important thing to understand about the PIP new claim and review process is awards are based on how your condition, long-term illness or disability affects you - not the actual condition itself. The DWP makes this distinction clear in the current edition of the online PIP Handbook. The guidance on explains: 'As the assessment principles consider the impact of a claimant's condition on their ability to live independently and not the condition itself, claimants with the same condition may get different outcomes. The outcome is based on an independent assessment and all available evidence.' Before contacting the DWP to report a change in your circumstances, it's important to be aware depending on the change, your PIP could go up, go down, stay the same or stop. Guidance on states you should contact the PIP if: you need more or less help with daily living and mobility tasks your health professional tells you your condition will last for a longer or shorter time than you reported before your condition has worsened and you're not expected to live more than 12 months How to report a PIP change Call the 'PIP enquiry line' on 0800 121 4433, lines are open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm. Full guidance on reporting a change can be found on here. Before making any request, seek independent advice from organisations such as the Citizens Advice Network because while an award review could result in an increase in payments, it could also see them reduced or even stopped. Find out more here.
