Attendance Allowance vs Pension Age Disability Payment
DWP (England, Wales, Northern Ireland) vs Social Security Scotland
The short answer
If you're over State Pension age and live in Scotland, you apply for Pension Age Disability Payment. Everyone else applies for Attendance Allowance. Existing AA recipients in Scotland are being transferred in phases.
Pension Age Disability Payment replaced Attendance Allowance in Scotland from April 2025. The two rates, the lower and higher bands, and the six-month qualifying period all match. The main differences are process — no face-to-face assessment by default in Scotland.
- England
- Wales
- Northern Ireland
Attendance Allowance
Administered by DWP. Applies in England, Wales, Northern Ireland.
Non-means-tested DWP benefit for people over State Pension age in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland who need help with personal care because of a physical or mental disability.
- Scotland
Pension Age Disability Payment
Administered by Social Security Scotland. Applies in Scotland.
Scotland's replacement for Attendance Allowance, administered by Social Security Scotland, for pensioners who need help with personal care because of a disability or health condition.
Rates side-by-side
| Rate | Amount | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Higher rate | £114.60 | WEEKLY |
| Lower rate | £76.70 | WEEKLY |
| Rate | Amount | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Higher rate | £114.60 | WEEKLY |
| Lower rate | £76.70 | WEEKLY |
Eligibility side-by-side
- RESIDENCEYou must have been in Great Britain for at least 2 of the last 3 years (this does not apply if you're a refugee or have humanitarian protection status). [GOV.UK]
- RESIDENCEYou must be habitually resident in the UK, Ireland, Isle of Man or the Channel Islands. [GOV.UK]
- HOUSING STATUSYou cannot usually get Attendance Allowance if you live in a care home and your care is paid for by your local authority. You can still claim if you pay for all your care home costs yourself. [GOV.UK]
- AGEYou must have reached State Pension age to be eligible. [GOV.UK]
- DISABILITYYou must have a physical disability (including sensory disability, e.g. blindness), a mental disability (including learning difficulties), or a health condition. [GOV.UK]
- DISABILITYYour disability or health condition must be severe enough that you need help caring for yourself or someone to supervise you, for your own or someone else's safety. [GOV.UK]
- + 4 more rules on the detail page.
- AGEApplicant must have reached State Pension age. [Scottish Government]
- DISABILITYApplicant must have care needs during the day or night for 6 months or more because of a disability or health condition. Applications are still accepted if the 6-month threshold has not yet been met; in that case an award begins 6 months from when care needs started if successful. [Scottish Government]
- DISABILITYApplicants with a terminal illness automatically receive the higher rate and there is a separate fast-track application process. [Scottish Government]
- INCOMEPension Age Disability Payment is not means-tested. Income and savings are not taken into account and will not affect any award. [Scottish Government]
- RESIDENCEApplicants living in Scotland are eligible. Applicants who do not live in Scotland may apply if they live in the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland or Gibraltar and have a genuine and sufficient link to Scotland. [Scottish Government]
- OTHERApplicants cannot receive Pension Age Disability Payment and Attendance Allowance at the same time. [Scottish Government]
- + 3 more rules on the detail page.
Which one applies to you?
These benefits are paired: each person qualifies for one of the two depending on where they live. Run the triage tool for a nation-aware answer.