Many of the 13 million pensioners in Scotland, England or Wales may not be aware they could be eligible for additional tax-free benefits, which could increase their annual income to over £18,500. Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment (PADP) are not means-tested and worth either £3,988 or £5,959 this year.
The full, New State Pension is worth £12,547 while the maximum Basic State Pension is worth £9,614. This means someone over 66 with a long-term illness, disability or health condition could potentially receive up to £18,506 a year, albeit in separate payments.
For pensioners on a low income, they might also be eligible for Pension Credit which could provide an extra £4,300 in financial help this year.
Pension Credit eligibility and support
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) estimates more than 760,000 people are eligible for Pension Credit, but not claiming the income-related benefit.
Similarly, over one million pensioners are believed to be eligible for Attendance Allowance, which is not affected by income or savings, is tax-free and is not counted as income when it comes to claiming Pension Credit.
Pension Credit currently supports 1.4m people, including 125,000 living in Scotland. It tops up weekly income to a guaranteed minimum level of £238.00 a week for single pensioners or £363.25 for couples. It is worth on average £4,300 this year.
If you are a single person on the New State Pension with a total weekly income below £238.00, or part of a couple with a combined weekly income of less than £363.25, you may be eligible for Pension Credit.
An award of just £1 per week is enough to unlock access to other financial support, including Council Tax discounts and help with heating bills this winter through the Warm Home Discount Scheme.
Mixed age couples and other help
In May 2019, the law changed so a ‘mixed age couple’ - a couple where one partner is of State Pension age and the other is under it - are considered to be a ‘working age’ couple when checking entitlement to means-tested benefits.
This means they cannot claim Pension Credit or pension age Housing Benefit until they are both State Pension age. Before this DWP change, a mixed age couple could be eligible to claim the more generous State Pension age benefits when just one of them reached State Pension age.
If you qualify for Pension Credit you can also get other help, such as:
- Housing Benefit if you rent the property you live in
- Support for Mortgage Interest if you own the property you live in
- Council Tax discount
- Free TV licence if you are aged 75 or over
- Help with NHS dental treatment, glasses and transport costs for hospital appointments
- Help with your heating costs through the Warm Home Discount Scheme
- A discount on the Royal Mail redirection service if you are moving house
Attendance Allowance and PADP details
Attendance Allowance currently helps more than 1.7 million older people across England and Wales while 175,750 in Scotland are receiving extra support through PADP.
People over State Pension age claiming Attendance Allowance or PADP will receive either £76.70 (lower rate) or £114.60 (higher rate) each week. As the benefit is usually paid every four weeks, this amounts to either £306.80 or £458.40 every payment period - some £5,959.20 over the 2026/27 financial year.
You should apply for Attendance Allowance or PADP if you have a disability or illness and need help or supervision throughout the day or at times during the night - even if you don’t currently get that help.
This might include help with your personal care - for example getting dressed, eating or drinking, getting in and out of bed, bathing or showering and going to the toilet - or help to stay safe.
You should also apply if you have difficulties with personal tasks, for example if they take you a long time, you experience pain or you need physical help, like a chair to lean on. Attendance Allowance and PADP are not just for people with a physical disability or illness.
You should also claim if you need help or supervision throughout the day or night and have a mental health condition, learning difficulties, or a sensory condition - if you are deaf or visually impaired.
Attendance Allowance and PADP are not means-tested so it doesn't matter what other money you have coming in or how much you have in savings either - there's no limit. It is also tax-free and you will be exempt from the Benefit Cap so you won't have money taken away from any other benefits you're already claiming. You can also claim it if you're still working and earning money.
To make a claim, you will need to complete a long claim form when you apply for Attendance Allowance. It might seem daunting at first but help is available from Citizens Advice and Independent Age. Full details of how to get the application form by post or over the phone can be found on the GOV.UK website. To claim Pension Age Disability Payment, visit MYGOV.SCOT.
