Rates and criteria

This chapter looks at the criteria of entitlement to the rates of payment for Pension Age Disability Payment (PADP).

This chapter should be read together with the PADP Definitions chapter.

Individuals must be of State Pension age and older to be entitled to PADP (PADP regs, reg 17(1))

Individuals must also satisfy the backwards test to be entitled to PADP. This is because the backwards test helps to distinguish between a short-term and long-term need for assistance.

The backwards test looks at how long an individual has met, or is likely to have met, the criteria of the daytime and/or night-time conditions. The backwards test for PADP is 26 weeks (PADP regs, reg 5(6)).PADP does not have a forwards test.

Individuals applying under Special Rules for Terminal Illness (SRTI) do not need to satisfy the backwards test (PADP regs, reg 5(7)). They also do not need to meet the daytime or night-time conditions as set out in this chapter. For more information on SRTI applications, please see the SRTI chapter.