Pensioners in Scotland, England, and Wales may be unaware they could claim two tax-free benefits that could increase their annual income to over £18,500. Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment (PADP) are not means-tested and are worth either £3,988 or £5,959 this year. Combined with the full New State Pension of £12,547, a person over 66 with a long-term illness or disability could receive up to £18,506 annually. Additionally, low-income pensioners may qualify for Pension Credit, providing an extra £4,300.
Attendance Allowance and PADP: Key Details
Attendance Allowance currently supports over 1.7 million older people in England and Wales, while 175,750 in Scotland receive extra support through PADP. Claimants receive either £76.70 (lower rate) or £114.60 (higher rate) per week, paid every four weeks as £306.80 or £458.40. Over the 2026/27 financial year, this totals up to £5,959.20.
You should apply if you have a disability or illness and need help or supervision during the day or night, even if you don't currently receive help. This includes personal care tasks like dressing, eating, bathing, or staying safe. Attendance Allowance and PADP are not just for physical conditions—they also cover mental health conditions, learning difficulties, or sensory impairments like deafness or blindness. These benefits are not means-tested, so savings or other income do not affect eligibility. They are tax-free and exempt from the Benefit Cap.
Pension Credit: Boosting Low Incomes
Pension Credit currently supports 1.4 million people, including 125,000 in Scotland. It tops up weekly income to a guaranteed minimum of £238.00 for single pensioners or £363.25 for couples, worth an average of £4,300 this year. If you are a single person on the New State Pension with weekly income below £238.00, or a couple with combined income under £363.25, you may be eligible. Even an award of just £1 per week unlocks additional support, such as Council Tax discounts and help with heating bills through the Warm Home Discount Scheme.
According to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), over 760,000 people are eligible for Pension Credit but not claiming it. Similarly, more than one million pensioners are eligible for Attendance Allowance. For mixed-age couples (one partner over State Pension age, the other under), a 2019 law change means they cannot claim Pension Credit until both reach State Pension age.
How to Claim
To check eligibility for Pension Credit, use the online calculator on GOV.UK or call the helpline at 0800 99 1234 (8am-6pm, Monday-Friday). Expert help is available from Independent Age, Income Max, Citizens Advice, and Age UK. For Attendance Allowance, complete a claim form available by post or phone from GOV.UK. In Scotland, new claims for Attendance Allowance are replaced by PADP, claimed via mygov.scot. Help is available from Citizens Advice and Independent Age.
