More than 1.7 million elderly people in the UK are currently receiving this payment
Thousands of pensioners are being reminded that they can now apply for financial support worth up to £440 a month online. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is currently accepting online applications for Attendance Allowance.
Recent statistics from the DWP show that more than 1.7 million elderly people are presently receiving additional financial aid through Attendance Allowance. In Scotland, this benefit has been replaced by the Pension Age Disability Payment.
As highlighted by the Daily Record, both schemes offer either £73.90 or £110.40 weekly, designed to help those of State Pension age with daily living expenses. These payments are made every four weeks.
The benefit supports people with disabilities, chronic illnesses, and mental or physical health conditions. You can spend the money however you like and it could help you stay independent in your own home for longer.
This might include paying for taxis, helping towards bills, or paying for a cleaner or gardener. The range of conditions covered by Attendance Allowance is vast, including nearly 50 different ailments, although arthritis continues to be the most common disabling condition – a broad term used by the DWP – assisting 508,964 people across Great Britain.
For those considering a new application for Attendance Allowance, GOV.UK guidance states that the new digital service will only handle a “limited number of applications each week”. It’s important to highlight that online applications cannot be completed using mobile phones or tablets – a desktop or laptop computer is necessary.
People can also apply by post, either by downloading and submitting the Attendance Allowance claim form from GOV.UK, or by calling the helpline on 0800 731 0122 to request one. For those sending applications by post, the DWP has recently updated its guidance to stress that claimants should “write anything except the Freepost address on the envelope” – they also confirmed it requires neither a postcode nor a stamp.
A DWP spokesperson commented on the online application system: “We are temporarily testing a new online service to make claiming Attendance Allowance easier and to improve accessibility. While the online service is not yet widely available, no-one will miss out on the benefit as claimants can still apply in the usual way by post.”
Attendance Allowance and PADP offer either £295.60 (lower rate) or £441.60 (higher rate) every four-week payment period.
The amount someone receives depends on the level of support required and the benefit is designed to assist people of State Pension age with daily living costs which can also help them remain independent in their own home for longer.
Main health conditions supported
Attendance Allowance provides assistance with extra costs if you have a physical or mental disability or illness severe enough that it makes self-care difficult – it does not cover mobility needs. You do not need to have someone caring for you in order to make a claim.
The following list is not a guide for claiming Attendance Allowance, but rather a tool to help individuals understand the types of conditions that are supported.
If you need extra support throughout the day or night because of a long-term illness, disability or health condition, it’s advisable to check the official eligibility criteria for Attendance Allowance on the GOV.UK website.
Below are the top 10 most frequently claimed Attendance Allowance health conditions:
- Arthritis – 508,964 claimants
- Dementia – 176,864
- Heart Disease – 129,143
- Respiratory Conditions – 109,287
- Disease Of The Muscles, Bones or Joints – 90,910
- Cerebrovascular Disease – 76,289
- Back Pain – 78,845
- Visual Disorders and Diseases – 52,190
- Parkinson’s – 45,779
- Neurological Conditions – 37,838
How to submit a claim
You’ll be required to complete an extensive claim form when applying for Attendance Allowance. Help with this process is available through your local Citizens Advice.
If you’d rather tackle it independently, you can use the Citizens Advice guide on completing your claim form. Full information on obtaining the application form by post or telephone can be accessed on the GOV.UK website.