Attendance Allowance replaced by Pension Age Disability Payment in Scotland

Attendance Allowance has been replaced by Pension Age Disability Payment in Scotland, according to guidance reviewed on 29 October 2025¹. Attendance Allowance continues to apply in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, where it is administered by the Department for Work and Pensions¹. Pension Age Disability Payment is administered in Scotland by Social Security Scotland².

Attendance Allowance is money for people over pension age who have care needs, and does not cover mobility needs¹. Claimants must normally have needed help with care needs for at least 6 months, though people who are terminally ill can claim straight away¹. It is not means-tested, so income and savings are not taken into account, and it is not taxable¹. Entitledto states that a claim can be made on someone's behalf if they cannot manage their own affairs³.

Pension Age Disability Payment is for people over State Pension age who live in Scotland and need help with care needs or regular supervision². Claimants must have needed that help for at least six months, whether or not they actually receive it, and do not need a diagnosis². It is not means-tested². The rates reported by Independent Age are:

Entitledto gives the same two figures for Attendance Allowance from April 2026: a higher rate of £114.60 per week and a lower rate of £76.70 per week³. It says the amount depends on how much a disability affects the claimant³.

Marie Curie states that people already receiving Attendance Allowance do not need to do anything, and that their benefit will switch automatically⁴. It also states that a BASRiS form, which stands for Benefits Assessment for Special Rules in Scotland, can be used when applying for Pension Age Disability Payment under the special rules for terminal illness, alongside Adult Disability Payment and Child Disability Payment⁴. The form is completed by a doctor or nurse and there is no charge for it⁴.

Why it matters for households

The change splits the benefit by nation. Someone over State Pension age with care needs who lives in Scotland claims Pension Age Disability Payment from Social Security Scotland, while someone in the same position in England, Wales or Northern Ireland claims Attendance Allowance from the DWP¹. Existing Scottish claims move across automatically, so no action is needed to start the switch⁴.

Both benefits are non means-tested, so income and savings do not affect entitlement¹. Independent Age states that Pension Age Disability Payment will not reduce other benefits such as Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction, and that an award may in some cases lead to higher rates of those benefits because of extra needs². Turn2us says the same for Attendance Allowance, adding that a claim will not reduce other income and may open entitlement to Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction¹.

The money is not ring-fenced for care. Independent Age states that claimants do not have to spend Pension Age Disability Payment on care².

What happens next

Applications for Pension Age Disability Payment can be made online at mygov.scot or by phone to Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222². The online and paper forms are only available in English, but applications can be made by phone in another language, and a friend, family member, carer or advocate can apply on someone's behalf². People with a terminal illness can claim straight away². Marie Curie states that a completed BASRiS form should be sent to Social Security Scotland, or to BASRiS, PO Box 27165, Glasgow G4 7BR if it is returned to the claimant⁴. No date has been reported for when Attendance Allowance claims in Scotland will all have moved.