In Scotland, Attendance Allowance has been replaced by Pension Age Disability Payment, delivered by Social Security Scotland. It does the same job, helping older people with the extra costs of needing care or supervision, and pays the same rates, but it is run in a way designed to be more supportive. This guide explains how Pension Age Disability Payment works, how it compares with Attendance Allowance, and how to claim it.

What Pension Age Disability Payment is

Pension Age Disability Payment is the Scottish benefit for people who have reached State Pension age and need help with personal care or supervision because of a disability or health condition. It has replaced Attendance Allowance for people in Scotland, and existing Scottish Attendance Allowance claimants have been moved across automatically. Like Attendance Allowance, it is tax-free and not means-tested, so your income and savings do not affect it.

The same two rates

Pension Age Disability Payment is paid at the same two rates as Attendance Allowance. For 2026/27, the lower rate is £76.70 a week and the higher rate is £114.60 a week. You get the lower rate if you need help or supervision during the day or at night, and the higher rate if you need it both during the day and at night, or if you are terminally ill. Like Attendance Allowance, it has no mobility component.

How it is assessed differently

The biggest differences are in how the benefit is run. Social Security Scotland handles the process itself, with an emphasis on treating people with dignity, fairness and respect. There is a strong focus on getting decisions right from the information you provide, and on supporting you through the process. As with the other Scottish disability benefits, the approach is intended to feel less stressful than the system it replaced.

Who can claim

You can claim if you have reached State Pension age, live in Scotland, and need help with personal care or supervision because of a physical or mental health condition or disability. You normally need to have needed the help for at least six months, although this is waived if you are terminally ill. As with Attendance Allowance, it is the help you reasonably need that counts, not the help you currently receive, and there is no points system.

How to apply

You apply to Social Security Scotland, usually online or by post, and there are normally two stages to the application. The form asks about the help you need with various tasks, day and night. Describe your needs fully, give examples, explain the risks you face, and mention any aids you use and any falls or accidents. If you need help to apply, Social Security Scotland can refer you to independent advocacy, and local advice agencies can assist too.

If you disagree with a decision

If you are unhappy with a decision, you can ask Social Security Scotland to look at it again through a re-determination, and if you are still unhappy you can appeal to the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland, which is independent. As with other Scottish disability benefits, the system is designed to make challenging a decision straightforward, and independent advocacy is available to support you through it.

What it can unlock

Like Attendance Allowance, Pension Age Disability Payment can increase your Pension Credit through a severe disability addition, and can mean someone who cares for you is able to claim Carer Support Payment, which is the Scottish replacement for Carer's Allowance. It can also help with council tax and act as a passport to other support, so it is worth checking what else you can claim once you have an award.

Moving to or from Scotland

If you move to Scotland while getting Attendance Allowance, you will usually be moved to Pension Age Disability Payment, and if you move from Scotland to England or Wales, you will move onto Attendance Allowance. There are arrangements to keep your payments going during a move, but tell the relevant agency promptly so your benefit transfers without a gap, and get advice if you are unsure how a move affects you.

Short-term assistance if you challenge a decision

One helpful feature of the Scottish system is short-term assistance. If a decision reduces or stops your payment and you challenge it, you can keep receiving the previous amount while your re-determination or appeal is considered, so you are not left worse off for exercising your rights. This is different from the position elsewhere in the UK and can make a real difference to people on a low income who would otherwise hesitate to challenge a decision.

Awards and reviews

Pension Age Disability Payment can be awarded for a fixed period or on a longer-term basis, with reviews to check whether your needs have changed. The approach to reviews is designed to be light touch and not to put people through unnecessary stress. You should still report if your needs increase, as this could mean moving from the lower to the higher rate, or report any other relevant change in your circumstances.

Why the rates match Attendance Allowance

The Scottish Government chose to keep the payment rates the same as Attendance Allowance, so that older disabled people in Scotland are not financially worse off than those elsewhere in the UK. This is why the two rates and the amounts are identical. The differences lie in how the benefit is administered and how people are treated through the process, rather than in how much is paid.

What it can mean for a carer

If someone provides you with at least 35 hours of care a week, an award of Pension Age Disability Payment can open the door to Carer Support Payment for them, the Scottish replacement for Carer's Allowance. This can bring extra money into the household and recognise the work a family carer does. If a relative or friend cares for you regularly, it is worth them checking whether they qualify once your award is in place.

Help to apply

You do not have to manage the application alone. Social Security Scotland is set up to support people through the process, and can refer you to an independent advocate if you need one. Local advice agencies, Age Scotland and Citizens Advice Scotland can also help you complete the form and describe your needs well. Using this help often leads to a fuller, stronger application than trying to do everything yourself.

It is paid on top of everything else

Pension Age Disability Payment is paid on top of your State Pension and any other income, and it is not counted as income for means-tested benefits, so it does not reduce your Pension Credit or other support. With savings ignored too, it is extra money in your pocket regardless of your financial situation, which is exactly why it is so worth claiming if you have care or supervision needs.

In short

Pension Age Disability Payment is the Scottish version of Attendance Allowance, paying the same £76.70 and £114.60 rates through a more supportive process run by Social Security Scotland. If you live in Scotland and have reached State Pension age, this is the benefit to claim, not Attendance Allowance.

Where to get help

Free help with Pension Age Disability Payment is available from Citizens Advice Scotland, Age Scotland and local advice services, who can help you apply and challenge a decision if needed. For the equivalent benefit elsewhere in the UK, and the detail of how the two rates work, see our guide to Attendance Allowance.