A new devolved disability benefit is replacing DWP payments for people of State Pension age.
Attendance Allowance payments issued by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) are set to end for pensioners living in Scotland before New Year's Day. By January 1, Pension Age Disability Payment (PADP) will have replaced the benefit for nearly all 155,210 existing DWP claimants north of the border.
The Scottish Government confirmed on Monday only 28 existing claimants with complex cases are still to be transferred to the Social Security Scotland system, which will happen over the coming weeks. Every claimant with a Scottish postcode should have received a letter informing them of their transfer by now.
If you have not received a letter, you should contact Social Security Scotland by phone on 0800 182 2222 or webchat. Just be aware services will be unavailable later this week due to New Year's Day and the bank holiday on Friday, January 2.
For older people with a long-term health condition or disability thinking about making a new claim for PADP, the data indicates the average processing time - from point of application to decision award letter - is currently eight working days. For those applying with a terminal illness it is two working days.
That means pensioners making a new claim over the next few days - which later turns out to be successful - could receive their first payment early in the new year.
Just remember the festive season means a change in operational hours, including helplines. However, this is the perfect time of year to make sure you, or someone you know, isn't missing out on crucial financial support.
It's also important to be aware complex cases may take longer and as awareness about the new benefit grows, that timeframe will undoubtedly increase.
PADP provides additional financial support for State Pension age with a disability or long-term health condition (physical or mental).
The conditions listed below are sourced from information recorded on the DWP's Attendance Allowance computer system. PADP also supports people with these conditions.
It's important to note this list is not a checklist for claiming Attendance Allowance or PADP, it is intended to help people understand what type of conditions are being supported. However, if you need extra support during the day or night due to a long-term illness, disability or health condition, you should check out the official eligibility guidance for Attendance Allowance on the GOV.UK website here.
The Scottish Government said PADP has been designed with the help of people who will be eligible for the benefit and those who support them. Improvements include a streamlined process for people to nominate a third party representative who can support them to communicate with Social Security Scotland.
A fast-track process is in place for applicants diagnosed with a terminal illness, this takes just one working day on average to process.
Guidance on mygov.scot provides full details on who can claim, how to claim, additional help available, what happens after a claim is submitted and extra support for successful claimants. Find out more here.
You can apply for Pension Age Disability Payment if you have both:
You can still apply if:
It's important to be aware you cannot get Pension Age Disability Payment and Attendance Allowance at the same time. Existing claimants will automatically move to Pension Age Disability Payment - Social Security Scotland will do this and you will not have to do anything.
If you get Disability Living Allowance (DLA), you do not need to do anything. Your benefit will move to Social Security Scotland.
Social Security Scotland will provide Pension Age Disability Payment at the same weekly rate as Attendance Allowance. It is also currently doing this for the devolved Child Disability Payment and Adult Disability Payment.
The weekly payment rates for Attendance Allowance are:
Payments are usually issued every four weeks so this amounts to £295.60 or £441.60 each payment period.
You can only apply for the new disability assistance benefit if it has opened in your area. You can check on the dedicated pages on mygov.scot here.
Anyone over State Pension age with a disability that means they need assistance with looking after themselves, or supervision to keep them safe, should continue to apply for Attendance Allowance through the DWP.
Help is also available from the independent advocacy service VoiceAbility, which is funded by the Scottish Government, to help disabled people applying for devolved benefits.
It provides a free, nationwide advocacy service supporting disabled people to access Social Security Scotland benefits.