Attendance Allowance can help provide financial support for a range of medical conditions – and here are some of the common reasons people claim
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has unveiled data showing that nearly 1.8 million elderly people were receiving extra financial aid through Attendance Allowance as of February 2025. It’s just one of the DWP benefits and perks available when you reach State Pension age.
Attendance Allowance is paid at either £73.90 (lower rate) or £110.40 (higher rate) per week. Given that the benefit is usually paid every four weeks, this amounts to either £295.60 or £441.60 each pay cycle.
The sum received is determined by the level of support needed. The benefit is intended to help those of State Pension age with daily living costs, which can also enable them to maintain their independence at home for a longer duration.
There is no mobility component linked with Attendance Allowance.
Attendance Allowance supports individuals with a disability, chronic illness, and mental or physical health conditions – over 48 conditions are covered by the benefit.
According to the GOV.UK website, you don’t need specific medical conditions to claim the benefit. They state: “You can get Attendance Allowance if you’ve reached State Pension age and the following apply:
However, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has provided a list of the most common conditions that lead to a claim for this allowance.
List of conditions
Arthritis tops the list as the most frequently claimed disabling condition – a term used by the DWP – with 449,077 people making a claim due to the condition, according to the Manchester Evening News.
The primary disabling conditions for Attendance Allowance are based on information from the DWP’s Attendance Allowance system. The DWP points out that when multiple conditions exist, the main disabling condition is reported.
It’s important to understand that this list is not a checklist for claiming Attendance Allowance, but rather a guide to help people understand what types of conditions are supported. If you require additional support during the day or night due to a long-term illness, disability or health condition, you should consult the official eligibility guidance on the GOV.UK website.
Eligible conditions include:
- Arthritis
- Spondylosis
- Back Pain
- Disease Of The Muscles, Bones or Joints
- Trauma to Limbs
- Visual Disorders and Diseases
- Hearing Disorders
- Heart Disease
- Respiratory Disorders and Diseases
- Asthma
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Cerebrovascular Disease
- Peripheral vascular Disease
- Epilepsy
- Neurological Diseases
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Parkinsons Disease
- Motor Neurone Disease
- Chronic Pain Syndromes
- Diabetes Mellitus
- Metabolic Disease
- Traumatic Paraplegia/Tetraplegia
- Major Trauma Other than Traumatic Paraplegia/Tetraplegia
- Learning Difficulties
- Psychosis
- Psychoneurosis
- Personality Disorder
- Dementia
- Behavioural Disorder
- Alcohol and Drug Abuse
- Hyperkinetic Syndrome
- Renal Disorders
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Bowel and Stomach Disease
- Blood Disorders
- Haemophilia
- Multi System Disorders
- Multiple Allergy Syndrome
- Skin Disease
- Malignant Disease
- Severely Mentally impaired
- Double Amputee
- Deaf/Blind
- Haemodialysis
- Frailty
- Total Parenteral Nutrition
- AIDS
- Infectious diseases: Viral disease – Coronavirus covid-19
Currently, Attendance Allowance is also supporting 43,295 individuals with a terminal illness.
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How to apply for Attendance Allowance
To apply for Attendance Allowance, you’ll need to complete a comprehensive claim form. It may seem daunting at first, but assistance is available from your local Citizens Advice, so don’t let the form deter you from applying.
If you’d prefer to apply yourself, the Citizens Advice guide can walk you through filling in your claim form. You can find all the details on how to get the application form by post or over the phone on the GOV.UK website.