Pension Age Disability Payment for Dementia in Scotland: How to Apply on mygov.scot

If you are caring for someone with dementia in Scotland who has reached State Pension age, you do not apply for Attendance Allowance. Scotland replaced it with Pension Age Disability Payment (PADP), administered by Social Security Scotland. The rates are the same — £76.70 or £114.60 per week in 2026/27 — but the application process and the way evidence is handled are different.

The Two-Part Application

PADP splits the claim into two parts:

Part 1 sets your application date, which determines when payments start if the claim succeeds. If you apply online, the date is when you submit Part 1; if you apply by phone and paper, it is the date you call Social Security Scotland to start the application. Part 1 collects basic personal details only. The key thing is to start it promptly.

Part 2 is where you describe the person's care and supervision needs in detail. You have eight weeks from completing Part 1 to submit Part 2. If you need more time, you can ask for it. Part 2 asks about:

• Help needed with personal care during the day (washing, dressing, eating, medication)
• Supervision needed to keep the person safe during the day
• Help or supervision needed at night
• How the person's condition varies between good and bad days

For dementia, the approach to Part 2 is the same as for any Attendance Allowance form: describe specific, concrete examples of what the person needs, how often, and what would happen without help. Cognitive prompting, verbal guidance, and safety supervision all count.

How Evidence Works Differently

This is the biggest practical difference from Attendance Allowance in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

When you fill in Part 2, you can ask Social Security Scotland to gather supporting information from healthcare professionals and services involved in the person's care — for example, a GP, memory clinic consultant, community psychiatric nurse, occupational therapist, or domiciliary care agency.

You can still provide GP letters, memory clinic reports, or care plans yourself. Asking Social Security Scotland to gather supporting information can take longer.

That said, you can submit your own evidence alongside Part 2 if you have it ready. A care diary, a list of medications, or a recent memory clinic report can help describe the person's needs.

Local Delivery Officers

Social Security Scotland's free Local Delivery service provides client support advisers who can meet the person at home or in a community location to help with the application. If the person with dementia cannot manage the form, or if you (as a carer or family member) would prefer someone to walk through Part 2 with you, call 0800 182 2222 to arrange an appointment.

Qualifying Period

PADP requires care needs to have been present for at least six months. This is the same as Attendance Allowance's qualifying period. If the person was recently diagnosed but has clearly needed care for longer than six months, the qualifying period is likely met — dementia symptoms typically precede a formal diagnosis by months or years.

You can apply before the six-month point. If successful, the award can start six months after the care needs began.

The Rates

The rates match Attendance Allowance exactly:

• Lower rate: £76.70 per week (day OR night needs)
• Higher rate: £114.60 per week (day AND night needs, or terminal illness under BASRiS)

Payments arrive every four weeks. The benefit is not means-tested and not taxable.

What Happens If the Decision Is Wrong

If PADP is refused or awarded at the lower rate when you expected the higher rate, the first step is to request a Re-determination within 42 calendar days. Social Security Scotland has a statutory eight-week deadline to complete it. If they miss the deadline, you gain an automatic right to appeal to the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland without waiting.

If the Person Already Had Attendance Allowance

The transfer of all existing Attendance Allowance cases in Scotland to PADP is complete. You do not need to apply again. If the person's needs have changed since the transfer — for example, dementia has progressed and night-time supervision is now needed — you can report a change of circumstances to Social Security Scotland to request a review.

For a full walkthrough of how to describe dementia care needs across all UK jurisdictions — including the specific prompts, evidence strategies, and linked benefits like Pension Credit and council tax exemptions — our dementia claim guide covers each system step by step.

See more United Kingdom guides →