What is Pension Age Disability Payment?

What it is

Pension Age Disability Payment (PADP) is paid by Social Security Scotland. It gives extra money to people who have reached State Pension age and have care needs because of a disability or long-term health condition. It has replaced Attendance Allowance in Scotland. People who already got Attendance Allowance were moved across without having to apply again.

PADP is for care needs only. It does not have a mobility part.

How much you get

It is not means-tested. Your income and savings are not taken into account.

Who can get it

You need to:

• have reached State Pension age
• have had care needs during the day or night for 6 months or more because of a disability or health condition
• live in Scotland (or in some cases in the EEA, Switzerland or Gibraltar with a genuine and sufficient link to Scotland)

"Care needs" means help or support you need. It counts even if you do not get that help yet, if you only need it sometimes, or if it comes from an aid or adaptation rather than a person.

You can apply before you reach 6 months. If you are successful, your award starts 6 months from when your care needs began. If you are terminally ill, there is a separate fast-track process.

Care homes: you can apply if you pay all your own care costs. You cannot usually get it if a council pays for your care.

How to apply

What you need: your personal details, your National Insurance number and bank details. For the second part, it helps to have details of your condition and contacts for people involved in your care. You must give one piece of supporting information from a professional, such as a prescription list or a letter. Send it within 28 days of sending part 2, or ask Social Security Scotland to get it for you.

1. Online through Social Security Scotland's myaccount. Once you have sent part 1, you must complete part 2 within 56 days (8 weeks).
2. By phone and paper form. Call Social Security Scotland free on 0800 182 2222 to start your application.

After you apply

Payment can start from the date you sent part 1 of your online application, or the date you first contacted Social Security Scotland to apply by phone or paper. It is normally paid every 4 weeks for the previous 4 weeks. If you are terminally ill, it is paid weekly in advance.

PADP is one of the benefits that can help you qualify for the severe disability extra amount in Pension Credit (£86.05 a week in 2026/27), if you meet the other conditions.

Related guides

• What is Attendance Allowance and how much is it?
• What is Adult Disability Payment?
• Does Attendance Allowance affect Pension Credit?
• What is Pension Credit?
• What is Carer Support Payment in Scotland?

Where these figures come from

• Pension Age Disability Payment (mygov.scot)
• Who can apply (mygov.scot)
• What you need for your application (mygov.scot)
• How to apply (mygov.scot)
• Receiving payments (mygov.scot)
• Pension Credit: what you'll get (GOV.UK)