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New figures from Social Security Scotland show 44,885 people over 66 were receiving Pension Age Disability Payments (PADP) at the end of July. The devolved benefit has replaced all new claims for Attendance Allowance in Scotland with existing claimants set to transfer from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) by the end of this year. In a new update, Social Security Scotland , the devolved benefits agency said: “Anyone who is still getting Attendance Allowance from the Department for Work and Pensions and has not received a letter to say their benefit is transferring to Pension Age Disability Payment should get in touch with us.” It went on to say that “everyone in Scotland who is getting Attendance Allowance should now either have had their award transferred to Pension Age Disability Payment or have received a letter from us telling them that their award transfer is in progress”. Social Security Scotland added that people should continue to report any change of circumstances to the DWP until their benefit has fully transferred - this is expected to be completed by the end of this year. You can contact Social Security Scotland by phone on 0800 182 2222 or webchat between 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Since PADP launched in October, some 11,060 applications were processed with a decision made by July 31. Of these, 82 per cent were authorised, 12 per cent were denied and 6 per cent were withdrawn. 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 seven working days. For those applying with a terminal illness it is two working days. This means people submitting a new claim this weekend could receive a letter or an email with an award decision in early November. However, it’s important to be aware that complex cases may take longer and as awareness about the new benefit grows, that timeframe will undoubtedly increase. People aged 75 to 79 were the largest age group, making up just over a quarter (28%) of the caseload with the largest proportion of claimants living in Glasgow City (11%), followed by North Lanarkshire (8%) and Fife and South Lanarkshire (both 7%). People of State Pension age with a disability, long-term illness or health condition could be eligible for the lower rate of £73.90 if they need help during the day or at night, or the higher rate of £110.40, if they need help during the day and at night, or if they are terminally ill. 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. 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. If you need an advocate, you should: Full contact details can be found here.
