Around 144,000 people in Scotland will be moved from Attendance Allowance to a new benefit called Pension Age Disability Payment, starting with a pilot in autumn 2024 and nationwide rollout in early 2025. The change is part of the transfer of certain benefits from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to Social Security Scotland.
Attendance Allowance is a DWP benefit for people over state pension age who need help with personal care due to illness or disability. The Scottish Government says eligibility rules for the new payment will remain broadly similar, requiring claimants to be over state pension age, have had the condition for at least six months, and need additional care.
The weekly rates will stay the same: £101.75 for the higher rate and £68.10 for the lower rate, paid every four weeks. Social Security Scotland will make decisions based on applicants' accounts and existing information, with no face-to-face assessments. Dedicated support will be available in all 32 local councils.
New claims for Attendance Allowance can still be made through the DWP, and these will be transferred to the new benefit from autumn 2024. The Scottish Government aims to simplify the application process, offering online, phone, post, and in-person routes.
