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Who can get pension age disability payment

You can get pension age disability payment if you,

  • normally live in Scotland and, at the moment, you live in one of the pilot local authority areas, which are Argyll and Bute, Highland, Orkney Islands, City of Aberdeen, and Shetland Islands. If you do not live in one of the pilot areas, you can still claim attendance allowance from the DWP
  • satisfy the rules about age
  • satisfy the disability test for either the lower or the higher rate
  • satisfy the residence conditions
  • are not a ‘person subject to immigration control’

Rules about age

To get pension age disability payment, you must have reached pension age. 

The disability test for pension age disability payment 

If you have extra care needs or need extra supervision as a result of your disability or health condition, you may be entitled to pension age disability payment. 

The rate you get depends on the level of care or supervision you need, for example:

  • lower rate rate - frequent help or constant supervision during the day, repeated help or supervision at night or someone to help while you are on dialysis
  • higher rate - help or supervision during both day and night, or you are terminally ill

Your must have had the extra care or supervision needs for at least 26 weeks unless you are terminally ill.

Residence conditions

As well as normally living in Scotland, to get pension age disability payment you must usually have lived in the ‘common travel area’ (UK, Ireland, Channel Islands, Isle of Man) for 26 weeks out of the last 52. This rule does not apply at all if you are terminally ill.

Terminal illness and pension age disability payment

If you are terminally ill, you are entitled to the higher rate of pension age disability payment.

You are ‘terminally ill’ if you have a progressive disease that can reasonably be expected to cause your death. This must be confirmed by a registered medical practitioner or registered nurse involved in your care. The doctor or nurse should complete a Benefits Assistance under Special Rules in Scotland (BASRiS) form.  Find out more about when to complete a BASRiS form on Social Security Scotland's website. Read the Chief Medical Officer's guidance for doctors and nurses completing the BASRiS form.

Pension age disability payment can be backdated to when you were judged to be terminally ill by a registered medical practitioner or nurse, providing you claim within 26 weeks of this date. If you claim later than this, pension age disability payment can be backdated for 26 weeks in this situation, although entitlement cannot begin any earlier than pension age disability payment came into existence on 21 October 2024.

How much is pension age disability payment

Pension age disability payment is paid at one of two rates:

  • lower rate: £72.65 a week
  • higher rate: £108.55 a week

How to claim

You should claim as soon as you can if you think you may be entitled to pension age disability payment as it cannot be backdated, unless you are terminally ill.

To claim you can:

  • phone Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222
  • claim online at mygov.scot 
  • fill out a claim form and send it by post - you'll need to ask Social Security Scotland to send you the form

If you disagree with the decision made by Social Security Scotland about pension age disability payment, you can challenge this decision by asking for a 'redetermination' and, if necessary, by appealing to a First-tier Tribunal. 

More information

Read the pension age disability payment regulations on legislation.gov.uk.