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Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment are non-means tested benefits for people aged 66 or over who need help with their personal care because of a physical, mental or cognitive disability. They are paid at two rates depending on whether you need help daytime, night-time or both. No-one will ask what you spend the money on; you can spend it in the way that works best for you.
You cannot claim Attendance Allowance or Pension Age Disability Payment if you already receive Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment or Adult Disability Payment.
Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment do not provide any assistance with mobility needs.
Receiving Attendance Allowance or Pension Age Disability Payment may help you to qualify for means tested benefits such as Pension Credit, or an increase in your Pension Credit. You should have a benefit check to find out what you may be entitled to if your claim succeeds. You can use Age Scotland’s online benefit calculator here Benefit Calculator (agescotland.org.uk) or call the Age Scotland helpline on 0800 12 44 222.
Attendance Allowance is one of the benefits that is being devolved to Scotland. From 21st October 2024 people living in Argyll & Bute, Highland, Aberdeen City, Orkney and Shetland will need to claim Pension Age Disability Payment instead of Attendance Allowance. You can find more information about Pension Age Disability Payment and when you can claim where you live here New disability benefit for pensioners
If you already receive Attendance Allowance you will automatically be moved on to Pension Age Disability Payment; the transfer process will start in early 2025.
Eligibility
Most of the rules for
You can get Attendance Allowance or Pension Age Disability Payment if you are 66 or over and:
- you have a physical disability, sensory, mental, learning or cognitive disability and
- your disability means that you need help caring for yourself or someone to supervise you, for your own or someone else’s safety
There are also rules about where you normally live, and how long you have lived in Great Britain. Pension Age Disability Payment has mostly the same rules as Attendance Allowance, but rules about how long you need to have lived in Scotland to qualify, and the rules about terminal illness, are be different.
How to claim Attendance Allowance
Call the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Attendance Allowance helpline.
Tel: 0800 731 0122
Text: 0800 731 0317
They will then send you an information pack and self-assessment form. It is important to include as much detailed information about your care needs as you can.
Attendance Allowance can be backdated to the date of your phone call if you return the claim pack within 6 weeks.
If you do not agree with the decision about your Attendance Allowance get advice from a specialist welfare benefits adviser.
How to claim Pension Age Disability Payment
Call Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222 or see their website Social Security Scotland
Tel: 0808 800 9060
Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Attendance Allowance
Tel: 0800 731 0317
Text: 0800 731 0122
Age Scotland
Attendance Allowance (agescotland.org.uk)
Information last updated on 18th October 2024. Please note that information may be subject to change. All information is provided in good faith but Disability Information Scotland does not endorse any product or service referred to within this resource.
We are grateful to the Scottish Government for funding this publication
