Attendance Allowance in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Switch to PADP

Three Countries, Three Systems

Attendance Allowance looks like a UK-wide benefit, but since Scottish devolution the picture has split. Where you live determines which organisation handles your claim, which form you fill in, and — in Scotland — which benefit you are actually claiming.

England and Wales: DWP

If you live in England or Wales, your claim goes to the Department for Work and Pensions. The Attendance Allowance Unit in Wolverhampton processes all claims centrally. You can apply by phoning the helpline (0800 731 0122), online through GOV.UK, or by posting a downloaded AA1 form. The helpline route is recommended because it protects your claim date — you have six weeks to return the completed form without losing a day of entitlement.

The statutory criteria are identical for England and Wales: State Pension age, two of three years' presence, six months of care needs, and the Day/Night functional tests. Rates for 2026/27 are £76.70 (Lower) and £114.60 (Higher) per week.

Northern Ireland: Department for Communities

Northern Ireland runs its own parallel system through the Department for Communities (DfC), operated by the Disability and Carers Service based in Limavady. The eligibility rules, rates and payment structure mirror England and Wales exactly — they operate under parity legislation.

The practical differences are administrative:

• Helpline number: 0800 587 0912 (free).
• Postal address: DfC Attendance Allowance, Mail Handling Site A, Wolverhampton, WV98 2JS (same processing centre for practical purposes).
• Online applications: Available through NI Direct. An Enduring Power of Attorney or Appointee can use the NI online service on behalf of the claimant.
• Appeals: If your claim is refused and Mandatory Reconsideration upholds the refusal, you appeal to the Appeals Service Northern Ireland using Form NOA1 (SS), not the HMCTS tribunal used in England and Wales.

In practice, if you are helping someone in Northern Ireland, the process feels very similar to the England and Wales route. The same AA1 form, the same criteria, the same rates.

Scotland: Pension Age Disability Payment (PADP)

Scotland no longer accepts new Attendance Allowance claims. Under the Social Security (Scotland) Act 2018, Social Security Scotland has replaced Attendance Allowance with the Pension Age Disability Payment (PADP).

PADP completed its national rollout in April 2025. All new applications from people living in Scotland go through Social Security Scotland — you cannot apply to the DWP for Attendance Allowance if you live in Scotland.

Key differences between PADP and Attendance Allowance:

• No face-to-face assessments by private contractors. Social Security Scotland does not commission independent medical assessments from private companies. Evidence is gathered from healthcare professionals and carers directly.
• Application route. Social Security Scotland has its own application process, accessible by phoning 0800 182 2222 or through mygov.scot.
• Automatic transfers. Existing Attendance Allowance recipients who lived in Scotland before PADP launched have been automatically transferred to Social Security Scotland without re-assessment. Their award terms continued unchanged.
• Rates. PADP rates mirror Attendance Allowance rates — the same £76.70 and £114.60 per week in 2026/27.

Moving Between Countries

If you currently receive Attendance Allowance in England or Wales and move permanently to Scotland, you must tell the DWP. Your Attendance Allowance stops 13 weeks after the move, and you need to make a new PADP claim with Social Security Scotland.

Moving from Scotland to England or Wales means telling Social Security Scotland and applying to the DWP for Attendance Allowance. Moving to or from Northern Ireland within the UK is simpler — the DfC and DWP share administrative parity, so your entitlement transfers.

Is Attendance Allowance Being Scrapped?

No. Media reports and social media posts claiming Attendance Allowance is "being scrapped" or "means tested" are inaccurate. The benefit remains in force across England, Wales and Northern Ireland with no enacted legislative changes to its structure. In Scotland it has been replaced by PADP, which provides equivalent support under a different name.

The Attendance Allowance Claim Guide covers the England, Wales and Northern Ireland claim process in detail, including how to navigate the jurisdictional rules if you live near a border or are considering a move.

See more United Kingdom guides →