If you read advice about Attendance Allowance and live in Scotland, it may be out of date. The Scottish Government has taken over the benefit and renamed it Pension Age Disability Payment.
What it is
Pension Age Disability Payment gives extra money to someone who has reached State Pension age and has care needs because of a disability or long-term health condition. It is paid by Social Security Scotland, not the Department for Work and Pensions.
You don't need someone caring for you to qualify. The test is your own needs.
The rates
| Rate | Weekly amount from April 2026 |
|---|---|
| Lower rate | £76.70 |
| Higher rate | £114.60 |
People who are terminally ill automatically get the higher rate. The rates were £73.90 and £110.40 the year before.
The money isn't means-tested. Your income and savings don't affect whether you get it or how much. It is based on the help you need, not the help you currently receive.
If you already get Attendance Allowance
People in Scotland who received Attendance Allowance are being moved across to Pension Age Disability Payment automatically. You can't get both at once. Anyone who already gets Adult Disability Payment stays on it after reaching State Pension age, and doesn't transfer. If you move away from Scotland, check how your benefit will be treated before you go.
Care homes
This is the part to check carefully before a move. The council charging guidance published in March 2026 says that care-related disability benefits are paid for the first 28 days when someone is in a care home and receives free personal care, and continue where only free nursing care is paid. It lists the older benefit names, and it describes itself as a guide only.
The sources we found don't settle how that rule applies to Pension Age Disability Payment. Ask Social Security Scotland before a relative moves into a care home, and ask the council to put the answer in writing. It could change the figures in your plan. Our guide to free personal care covers what the council pays.
How it fits into planning for care
The payment is separate from the support the council arranges, which is covered in our guide to self-directed support. It doesn't change the rules about capital and your home, which are in our guide to care home fees.
Richard helps families sort out the legal and financial side of care, including the paperwork that has to be in place first. See our Long-Term Care Planning page.