The average processing time for new Pension Age Disability Payment claims is eight working days.Pension Credit – Could you or someone you know be eligible?
The latest figures from Social Security Scotland show there are now 135,510 people over 65 receiving Pension Age Disability Payment (PADP). The devolved disability benefit has now replaced all new claims for Attendance Allowance north of the border.
That figure includes 118,085 existing claimants who have been successfully transferred from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to the Social Security Scotland system while 17,425 are new applicants. Of the total caseload, 89,340 (66%) were in receipt of the higher weekly payment of £110.40 and 46,170 (34%) were in receipt of the lower payment of £73.90.
The data also indicated that the average time to process a new claim has increased from seven working days to eight. That means pensioners making a new claim over the next couple of weeks – which later turns out to be successful – could receive their first payment before the end of February.
READ MORE: Older people can claim two benefits which boost annual income to nearly £17,800READ MORE: Pensioners set to receive up to £316 later this year to help with energy bills
It’s also important to be aware that 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).
Health conditions supported by Attendance Allowance and PADP
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.
Main health conditions providing support to older people across Great BritainArthritisSpondylosisBack PainDisease Of The Muscles, Bones or JointsTrauma to LimbsVisual Disorders and DiseasesHearing DisordersHeart DiseaseRespiratory Disorders and DiseasesAsthmaCystic FibrosisCerebrovascular DiseasePeripheral vascular DiseaseEpilepsyNeurological DiseasesMultiple SclerosisParkinsons DiseaseMotor Neurone DiseaseChronic Pain SyndromesDiabetes MellitusMetabolic DiseaseTraumatic Paraplegia/TetraplegiaMajor Trauma Other than Traumatic Paraplegia/TetraplegiaLearning DifficultiesPsychosisPsychoneurosisPersonality DisorderDementiaBehavioural DisorderAlcohol and Drug AbuseHyperkinetic SyndromeRenal DisordersInflammatory Bowel DiseaseBowel and Stomach DiseaseBlood DisordersHaemophiliaMulti System DisordersMultiple Allergy SyndromeSkin DiseaseMalignant DiseaseSeverely Mentally impairedDouble AmputeeDeaf/BlindHaemodialysisFrailtyTotal Parenteral NutritionAIDSInfectious diseases: Viral disease – Coronavirus covid-19
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.
Eligibility for Pension Age Disability Payment
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:
Reached State Pension age (66)Had care needs during the day or night for 6 months or more because of a disability or health condition
You can still apply if:
You have not had care needs for 6 months or more – your award will begin 6 months from when your care needs started if your application is successfulYou are waiting for, or do not have, a diagnosisYou have a terminal illness – there is a separate fast-track application process if you’re terminally ill
It’s important to be aware you cannot get Pension Age Disability Payment and Attendance Allowance at the same time.
If you get Disability Living Allowance (DLA), you do not need to do anything. Your benefit will move to Social Security Scotland.
Payment rates for Pension Age Disability Payment
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:
Lower rate – £73.90 (rising to £76.70 in April)Higher rate – £110.40 (rising to £114.60 in April)
Payments are usually issued every four weeks so this amounts to £295.60 or £441.60 each payment period.
Following the uprating on April 6, this will rise to between £306.80 and £458.40 every four-week payment period.
The average processing time for new Pension Age Disability Payment claims is eight working days.(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
How do I apply for Pension Age Disability Payment?
Full details on how to make a claim online, by phone, post or in person can be found on MYGOV.SCOT.
Anyone over State Pension age living in England or Wales 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.
Get support making a claim from an independent advocate
The Social Security Independent Advocacy Service is funded by the Scottish Government. It was set up to ensure that disabled people can understand and exercise their rights, participate fully in decisions and help them apply for vital support from Scotland’s devolved social security benefits.
Advice Direct Scotland is the new provider of this service through their dedicated platform advocacy.scot .
You can contact Advice Direct Scotland with any queries by calling 0808 196 8901 or emailing support@advocacy.scot.
Social Security Scotland can also help you to apply for Pension Age Disability Payment – full details on MYGOV.SCOT.
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