Major change for thousands of state pensioners on benefits starts today – are you affected?

THOUSANDS of state pensioners will be impacted by a major change to their benefits.

Government in Scotland is launching a new benefit that will eventually see Attendance Allowance scrapped in the country.

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The new benefit – known as the pension age disability payment – will give extra cash to pensioners suffering from long-term illnesses or who are terminally ill.

This is almost identical to Attendance Allowance, but Scottish officials say the new process will make it easier to nominate someone to support them in their talks with the benefits officer for the country.

Applications to apply for the support opened in five trial areas today including,  Argyll and Bute, Aberdeen, Orkney, Shetland and Highland.

However, the whole region will have the benefit introduced by April 2025.

Successful claimants will receive between £290 and £434 per month to help them.

Again, the amount applicants receive will not be different to what they currently get on Attendance Allowance and how much you receive depends on the severity of your illness.

Shirley-Anne Somerville, social justice secretary 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.

This was echoed by Tommy Campbell, an executive committee member at the Scottish Pensioners’ Forum.

He said: “We support many people of state pension age and over with long-term health conditions such as dementia, Alzheimer’s and arthritis who would really benefit from this financial support”

It’s worth bearing in mind that this change only applies to Scottish residents.

So if you live in England or Wales you will continue to receive Attendance Allowance, which is paid by the DWP.

The benefit is worth either £72.65 or £108.55 a week, depending on your needs.

How much can I get?

The pension age disability payment can give you extra money if you have care needs because of a long-term illness.

It’s paid at two different rates, lower and higher. The amount you get depends on your care needs.

For example, the lower rate is £72.65 a week and is for people who need help or supervision during the day or night.

Meanwhile, the higher rate is £108.55 a week and is for people who need help or supervision during the day and night.

If you’re terminally ill you’ll automatically get the higher rate.

How can I apply?

When you can apply will depend on where you live. The payment is opening for new applications in stages across Scottish council areas.

You can apply for the pension age disability payment now, if you are of state pension age and you live in:

• Aberdeen City
• Argyll and Bute
• Highland
• Orkney
• Shetland

You’ll be able to apply from March 24 2025 if you live in:

• Aberdeenshire
• Angus
• Clackmannanshire
• Dundee City
• East Ayrshire
• Falkirk
• Fife
• Moray
• Na h-Eileanan Siar (Western Isles)
• North Ayrshire
• Perth and Kinross
• South Ayrshire
• Stirling

From April 2025 all councils in the country will have made the switch.

If you are already claiming Attendance Allowance then you will not need to make a new application.

The Scottish government will move you to payment without you having to do anything in 2025.