More than half a million older people in Great Britain receive Attendance Allowance or Pension Age Disability Payment for arthritis-related conditions, with successful claimants getting up to £458.40 every four weeks.
Latest figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show 503,389 people across Great Britain receive Attendance Allowance for arthritis, making it the most-claimed health condition among people over State Pension age.
Successful claimants receive either £76.70 (lower rate) or £114.60 (higher rate) per week. As payments are issued every four weeks, this amounts to either £306.80 or £458.40 per pay period. Attendance Allowance is tax-free and not affected by savings or income.
Scotland's Pension Age Disability Payment
In Scotland, new claims for Attendance Allowance have been replaced by Pension Age Disability Payment (PADP). Both benefits follow similar eligibility criteria and provide the same payment rates.
Arthritis typically causes stiffness, swelling, pain and inflammation in a joint, and accounts for more than one-third (35%) of all 1.7 million claimants on Attendance Allowance. Across Great Britain, an estimated 20 million people have arthritis or similar joint conditions.
At the end of April, 1,694,012 older people were claiming Attendance Allowance across England and Wales, while Social Security Scotland data shows 185,895 pensioners in Scotland received Pension Age Disability Payment.
Who can claim Attendance Allowance?
Attendance Allowance helps with extra costs if you have a physical or mental disability or illness severe enough to make it hard to look after yourself. It does not cover mobility needs, and you do not need to have someone caring for you to make a claim.
You should apply if you need help or supervision throughout the day or at night, even if you don't currently get that help. This might include help with personal care such as getting dressed, eating or drinking, getting in and out of bed, bathing or going to the toilet, or help to stay safe.
You should also apply if you have a mental health condition, learning difficulties, or a sensory condition such as being deaf or visually impaired.
How much could I get and how to claim
You could receive £76.70 if you need help during the day or at night, or £114.60 if you need help both day and night, or if you are terminally ill. The money can be spent however you like, such as paying for taxis, helping towards bills, or paying for a cleaner or gardener.
Attendance Allowance is not means-tested, so it doesn't matter what other income or savings you have. It is tax-free, and you are exempt from the Benefit Cap. It won't affect your State Pension, and you can claim it while still working.
Other benefits might increase if you get Attendance Allowance, including Extra Pension Credit, Housing Benefit Reduction, and Council Tax Reduction.
To claim, you need to complete a long form. Help is available from your nearest Citizens Advice. If you are about to reach State Pension age, you might be better off claiming Personal Independence Payment (PIP) straight away, as you may get more money.
You cannot get Attendance Allowance if you already get PIP or Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for care. For Pension Age Disability Payment, you must have reached State Pension age and had care needs during the day or night for 6 months or more. You can still apply if you haven't had care needs for 6 months, are waiting for a diagnosis, or have a terminal illness.
