Pension Age Disability Payment (PADP) pays one of two weekly rates in Scotland, and which one you get depends on whether you need help or supervision by day, by night, or both. It is the Scottish benefit that replaces Attendance Allowance for people over State Pension age, delivered by Social Security Scotland. This tool asks about your care needs and shows the rate they point to, plus the yearly total.
Pension Age Disability Payment Rate Checker
Answer about your care needs over the last six months. Your answers stay in your browser.
What Pension Age Disability Payment Is
PADP is money for people over State Pension age who have care needs because of a disability or long-term health condition. It is not means-tested, so your income and savings do not affect it, and it is tax-free.
Social Security Scotland is replacing Attendance Allowance with PADP across Scotland. People already receiving Attendance Allowance are being moved over automatically during 2025 without needing to reapply, and you cannot receive both at the same time. If you live in England or Wales you claim Attendance Allowance instead. The payment is based on the help you need, not on the help you actually get, so you can qualify even if you live alone and no one currently provides that care.
There are two rates. The lower rate is for people who need care either during the day or during the night. The higher rate is for people who need care both day and night, or who are terminally ill.
The Two PADP Rates
These are the weekly rates published by Social Security Scotland. Rates are reviewed and usually uprated each April.
| Rate | When it applies | Per week |
|---|---|---|
| Lower rate | Help or supervision needed during the day or the night | £76.70 |
| Higher rate | Help or supervision needed during the day and the night, or terminal illness | £114.60 |
Figures from mygov.scot. PADP is paid every four weeks, so the lower rate is about £306.80 and the higher rate about £458.40 per four-week period.
Common PADP Questions
People moving from Attendance Allowance or claiming for the first time usually have the same handful of questions.
Will my Attendance Allowance stop? No money stops. If you already get Attendance Allowance in Scotland, Social Security Scotland moves you to PADP automatically at the equivalent rate. You do not need to do anything, and there is no gap in payment.
Does PADP affect my other benefits? Getting PADP can increase means-tested benefits such as Pension Credit, and it may help a carer qualify for Carer Support Payment. It does not reduce your State Pension.
Do I need a six-month waiting period? Usually you must have had care needs for at least six months before payment starts. This waiting period does not apply if you are terminally ill, when the higher rate is paid straight away under special rules.
Can I get PADP if I have savings? Yes. PADP is not means-tested, so savings and income are ignored. What matters is your care needs, not your finances.
How to Claim and What Counts as a Care Need
Care needs cover far more than personal care, and understanding what counts helps you describe your situation accurately.
Day-time needs. These include help with washing, dressing, eating, moving around indoors, taking medication, or someone watching over you to keep you safe because of a condition such as dementia, frailty or a sensory impairment. You do not need to receive this help now; it is about what you reasonably need.
Night-time needs. These count if you need help repeatedly during the night, or prolonged help, or someone to watch over you at regular intervals to avoid danger. Needing help both day and night points to the higher rate.
Making a claim. You apply to Social Security Scotland by phone, online or on paper. Keep a note of the help you need across a typical day and night, as this is what the decision is based on. If your needs later increase, you can ask for the award to be looked at again.
PADP and Your Wider Finances
Because PADP is not means-tested, its main financial value is often the extra help it unlocks rather than the payment alone.
Pension Credit and other top-ups. Getting PADP can qualify you for a severe disability addition within Pension Credit and some other means-tested benefits, which can be worth more than the PADP itself. If you receive Pension Credit, tell the office once your PADP starts so any extra amount can be added.
Help for a carer. Someone who looks after you for at least 35 hours a week may be able to claim Carer Support Payment in Scotland once you receive a qualifying disability benefit such as PADP. That can bring money into the household on top of your own payment.
Council tax and travel. Receiving a disability benefit can also open the door to a Council Tax Reduction and local travel concessions. These are run by your council, so check what applies where you live once your PADP is in payment.
Official Sources
- mygov.scot — Pension Age Disability Payment (rates £76.70 / £114.60)
- GOV.UK — Attendance Allowance (England and Wales equivalent)
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Rates as published by Social Security Scotland and reviewed each April. This tool indicates a likely rate from your care needs; the final decision is made by Social Security Scotland. Last checked August 2026.