New benefit for state pensioners launching this month worth £5,644 a year

Pension Age Disability Payment – the replacement for Attendance Allowance - is set to launch for some people with health issues over the state pension age.

A new disability benefit, known as the Pension Age Disability Payment, is set to launch in some areas of Scotland this month. Pension Age Disability Payment – the replacement for Attendance Allowance - is set to launch for some people with health issues over the state pension age.

Pension Age Disability Benefit is for people of pension age who have a disability or long-term health condition that means they need help looking after themselves or supervision to stay safe. It is not means-tested and is worth between £290 and £434 a month depending on the needs of the person who gets it.

Pension Age Disability Payment was designed with the people north of the border 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.

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Social Security Scotland can help people apply, with face to face support available from its team based in communities across the country. Help is also available from independent advocacy service Voiceability who are funded by the Scottish Government to help disabled people applying for devolved benefits.

Social Security Scotland also has a separate, accelerated application process for people who are terminally ill. This is open to any eligible person who has a terminal diagnosis, no matter how long they’re expected to live. This is different to the DWP who only class someone as terminally ill if they are expected to live for 12 months or less. Eligible people automatically get the highest amount of Pension Age Disability Benefit.

It is tax-free, not means-tested and will be paid at the same rates as its Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) counterpart. This means it will be worth either £72.65 (lower rate) if you need help during the day or at night or £108.55 (higher rate) if you need help during the day and at night, or if you are terminally ill, with payments weekly. It means a maximum of £5644 a year.

Pension Age Disability Payment rollout timetable in Scotland

From October 21, 2024:

• Argyll and Bute
• Highland
• Aberdeen City
• Orkney
• Shetland

From March 24, 2025:

• Aberdeenshire
• East Ayrshire
• North Ayrshire
• South Ayrshire
• Na h-Eileanan Siar (Western Isles)
• Stirling
• Clackmannanshire
• Falkirk
• Fife
• Angus
• Dundee City
• Perth & Kinross
• Moray

From April 22, 2025:

• Nationwide rollout across Scotland