Scottish Attendance Allowance transfers to Pension Age Disability Payment begin

People in Scotland who get Attendance Allowance began to be automatically transferred to Pension Age Disability Payment in January 2025, according to the benefit changes timetable published by Turn2us¹. Claimants do not need to apply: "If you are currently claiming Attendance Allowance, you don't need to apply for this; you will be moved automatically," Carers UK states². Marie Curie likewise says: "If you're already receiving Attendance Allowance, you do not need to do anything. Your benefit will switch automatically."³

Pension Age Disability Payment has replaced Attendance Allowance in Scotland⁴. It is for people over State Pension age who live in Scotland and have needed help with care needs or regular supervision for at least six months, whether or not they actually receive that help, and no diagnosis is needed⁴. It is not means-tested, so income and savings are not considered⁴. The rates reported for 2026/27 are £76.70 a week at the lower rate and £114.60 a week at the higher rate². The lower rate applies where care or supervision is needed during the day or night; the higher rate where it is needed during both day and night, or where the person has a terminal illness⁴.

The transfer is being phased. Pension Age Disability Payment was to become available in 13 more local authority areas from 24 March 2025 and throughout Scotland from 22 April 2025, Turn2us reports¹. Carers UK describes it as "now widely available across Scotland"². The two organisations describe the position differently: Turn2us sets out a staged local authority rollout during 2025¹, while Carers UK and Independent Age describe the benefit as having replaced Attendance Allowance in Scotland².

Pension Age Disability Payment does not reduce other benefits such as Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction, and in some cases an award can increase entitlement to means-tested benefits⁴. In Scotland, receiving Attendance Allowance also brings entitlement to free bus travel and a Companion Card². Claims can be made by phone to Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222, online or on paper, and a friend, family member, carer or advocate can apply on someone's behalf⁴. Where a medical professional has said the person has a terminal illness, a claim can be made straightaway⁴, using a BASRiS form completed by a doctor or nurse³.

Why it matters for households

For households in Scotland where someone over State Pension age gets Attendance Allowance, the payment continues without a break in entitlement and without a new claim, but the paying body and the name of the benefit change². The amount is unchanged in structure: two weekly rates, lower and higher, at the levels reported for 2026/27². Because the payment is not means-tested and does not reduce Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction, an award can raise entitlement to those means-tested benefits rather than lower it⁴. People who move between Scotland and the rest of the UK, or who claim PIP before State Pension age and Attendance Allowance after it, are affected by which system pays them². Claimants must still report changes such as a hospital or care home stay of more than 28 days, going abroad for more than 13 weeks, or a change in care needs².

What happens next

The timetable lists further Scottish changes during 2025: the transfer of people from Carer's Allowance to Carer's Support Payment was expected to be complete by March 2025, and the transfer of people getting Disability Living Allowance to Adult Disability Payment and Scottish Adult DLA was expected to begin¹. A new Pension Age Winter Heating Payment was expected to launch in Scotland in November 2025, replacing the Winter Fuel Payment¹.