New benefit opens for applications in pilot areas

A new benefit for pensioners with disabilities has been rolled out in some areas as part of a pilot scheme.

The pension age disability payment will aim to support those of state pension age who are disabled, have a long-term health condition or are terminally ill.

The new benefit – which will be open for applications in Argyll and Bute, Aberdeen, Orkney, Shetland and Highland council areas from Monday – will provide between £290 and £434 per month to successful applicants.

It will be rolled out across the country by next spring.

It will replace the current attendance allowance offered by the UK Government, and those already in receipt will have their claims moved to Social Security Scotland in early 2025.

Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville welcomed the rollout, saying it is “more important than ever that older disabled people across Scotland get all the financial support they are entitled to” due to the cost of living.

“This new benefit has been developed by listening to older disabled people and we have made many changes, including making it easier for them to nominate someone to support them in their engagement with Social Security Scotland, something they told us was important to them,” she said.

“I would encourage anyone who thinks they are eligible for pension age disability payment to apply.

“It’s important they get the money they need to help them look after themselves, stay safe and get support to live with the dignity and respect that we all deserve as we get older.”

While Debbie Horne, the Scotland policy and public affairs manager at Independent Age, said support for the costs associated with a disability “are an essential part” of the social security system.

“Putting dignity and respect at the heart of how the payment is delivered is essential,” she said.

“We hope changes made to the payment, such as making it simpler for people at the end of their life to get support, result in an improved experience for older people applying for the payment in Scotland.”

A fast-track process will be put in place for applicants diagnosed with a terminal illness.

Tommy Campbell, an executive committee member at the Scottish Pensioners’ Forum, said: “We support many people of stage pension age and over with long-term health conditions such as dementia, Alzheimer’s and arthritis who would really benefit from this financial support.

“We hope that the rollout of this pilot programme over the coming months will demonstrate and deliver on this.”