The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has published a comprehensive list of 56 health conditions that may qualify individuals for Attendance Allowance, a benefit worth up to £114.60 per week. Over one million pensioners could be missing out on this financial support, which is designed to help with extra costs such as care or transport.
Attendance Allowance Overview
Attendance Allowance is a tax-free, non-means-tested benefit for people aged 66 and above who have a disability or illness that affects their daily life. Currently, more than 1.7 million people receive this benefit, but research from Policy in Practice suggests that up to 1.1 million pensioners were not claiming it in 2023, leaving approximately £5.2 billion unclaimed. The main reason for this gap is a lack of awareness.
Caroline Abrahams CBE, charity director at Age UK, explained: "If you're an older person living with a disability or serious health condition, you may be entitled to extra financial support to help you stay independent at home." She added that Attendance Allowance can fund extra costs like heating or taxi rides to hospital appointments.
Qualifying Conditions
The list of 56 conditions includes a wide range of physical and mental health issues. Some of the most common qualifying conditions are:
- Arthritis
- Spondylosis
- Back pain (other/precise diagnosis not specified)
- Disease of the muscles, bones or joints
- Trauma to limbs
- Blindness
- Deafness
- Heart disease
- Chest disease
- Asthma
- Cystic fibrosis
- Cerebrovascular disease
- Peripheral vascular disease
- Epilepsy
- Neurological diseases
- Multiple sclerosis
- Parkinson's 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
- Infectious diseases: Viral disease - precise diagnosis not specified
- Infectious diseases: Bacterial disease – tuberculosis
- Infectious diseases: Bacterial disease – precise diagnosis not specified
- Infectious diseases: Protozoal disease – malaria
- Infectious diseases: Protozoal disease – other/precise diagnosis not specified
- Infectious diseases: other/precise diagnosis not specified
- Cognitive disorder: other/precise diagnosis not specified
- Terminally ill
Eligibility and Rates
To qualify for Attendance Allowance, individuals must be above state pension age (currently 66) and have required help with personal care or supervision for at least six months. Those with terminal illnesses can access the benefit immediately. A formal diagnosis is not necessary; applicants only need to demonstrate they have faced difficulties for six months due to their condition.
The benefit is paid at two rates:
- Lower rate: £76.70 per week for those who need regular help or supervision during the day or night.
- Higher rate: £114.60 per week for those who need care or supervision throughout the day and night, or are terminally ill.
Recipients of the higher rate receive approximately £458.40 per month, totalling about £5,500 annually. Attendance Allowance does not affect other benefits and is not impacted by savings or income.
How to Claim
Applications can be made online or via post. For postal claims, a form must be completed detailing the support needed. Forms are available by calling 0800 731 0122 or downloading from the government website.
Common Myths Debunked
Caroline Abrahams from Age UK identified six common myths that prevent people from claiming:
- "My claim was turned down, so there's no point in applying again." Circumstances may have changed; if care needs have increased, eligibility may now apply.
- "My income is too high." Attendance Allowance is not means-tested; it is based solely on disability and care needs.
- "I can get by without it." If eligible, it is money you are entitled to, which can help maintain independence.
- "I can't claim because I don't want a carer coming in." The money can be spent on home help or equipment, not necessarily a carer.
- "I can't claim because I don't have a carer." Qualification is based on the help needed, not the help received.
- "The claim form is too long." Charities like Age UK and Independent Age can assist with filling out the form.
For help, call the Age UK Advice Line free on 0800 678 1602, open 8am-7pm, 365 days a year.
