Pensioners in five Scottish local authorities will be the first
in the country eligible for a new disability benefit, subject to
parliamentary approval of regulations.
From 21 October, Pension Age Disability Payment – the replacement
for Attendance Allowance - will be piloted in Argyll & Bute,
Highland, Aberdeen City, Orkney and Shetland.
The benefit will become available in 13 more local authority
areas on 24 March next year before becoming available across
Scotland by 22 April.
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.
Currently over 150,000 people in Scotland get Attendance
Allowance from the Department for Work and Pensions.
They do not need to take any action as their awards will be
automatically moved from the DWP to Social Security
Scotland. This will happen in phases, with the first expected to
be transferred in early 2025.
Pension Age Disability Payment was designed with the 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.
Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville
said:
“In the midst of the cost of living crisis it is more important
than ever that older people get the support they're entitled to.
“We developed Pension Age Disability Payment by listening to the
people who would be applying for it and those who support them.
We made changes including making it easier for an eligible person
to nominate a third party representative, something people told
us was important for many older people.
“The pilot phase will allow us to put our different approach into
practice, learning and improving before the benefit is rolled out
across Scotland.
“If you think you might be eligible for support right now, I
encourage you to apply for Attendance Allowance from the
Department for Work and Pensions.
“Anyone getting that benefit will automatically have their award
transferred to Pension Age Disability Payment next year so there
is no reason to wait.”
BACKGROUND
The Disability Assistance
for Older People (Scotland) Regulations 2024
- Pension Age Disability Payment will be available in the
following areas from 24 March 2025:
- Aberdeenshire
- East Ayrshire
- North Ayrshire
- South Ayrshire
- Na h-Eileanan Siar
- Stirling
- Clackmannanshire
- Falkirk
- Fife
- Angus
- Dundee City
- Perth & Kinross
- Moray
- On 22 April, 2025, it will be available across all of
Scotland.
- 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.
