Social Security Scotland has said the process of transferring existing claims for Attendance Allowance and Disability Living Allowance to Pension Age Disability Payment will begin in February 20251. The transfer applies to people in Scotland already receiving those benefits1.
Claimants will not have to make a new claim. Turn2us, which reviewed the position on 21 October 2024, states that claims will be moved across automatically1.
"you won't need to reapply. Your claim will be transferred to a claim for Pension Age Disability Payment"
Payment amounts and payment frequency should stay the same through the transfer1. Social Security Scotland will write to affected claimants with a letter setting out the process and how long it is expected to take1.
The transfer does not apply to everyone of State Pension age in Scotland. People already receiving Adult Disability Payment will not move to Pension Age Disability Payment when they reach State Pension age, and will remain on Adult Disability Payment1.
| Existing benefit | What happens |
|---|---|
| Attendance Allowance | Claim transferred to Pension Age Disability Payment from February 20251 |
| Disability Living Allowance | Claim transferred to Pension Age Disability Payment from February 20251 |
| Adult Disability Payment | No transfer at State Pension age; claimant remains on Adult Disability Payment1 |
Why it matters for households
The change affects people in Scotland who already receive Attendance Allowance or Disability Living Allowance and who are of State Pension age. For them, the benefit name on their award changes, but the amount paid and how often it is paid should remain the same1. Because the claim moves automatically, there is no application to complete and no new assessment described in the published information1.
The distinction between the two disability benefits for working age adults and those of State Pension age matters here. Someone on Adult Disability Payment stays on that payment rather than moving to Pension Age Disability Payment at State Pension age1, so the transfer described does not apply to them.
The timing of individual transfers has not been reported beyond the February 2025 start date. Social Security Scotland is to contact claimants directly by letter with the process and expected timescale1. Until that letter arrives, the published information does not set out a date for any individual claim to move.
What happens next
Social Security Scotland has said the transfer process begins in February 20251. Claimants will receive a letter from Social Security Scotland explaining the process and how long it should take1. No further dates for stages of the transfer have been reported.
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