Attendance Allowance and Pension Age Disability Payment (PADP) are worth up to £458.40 a month for people over State Pension age who need help with personal care because of an illness or disability. The latest figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show that at the end of March this year, more than 1.7 million older people were receiving additional financial support through Attendance Allowance. Similar data from Social Security Scotland indicates 185,895 people aged over 66 are receiving cash help through the devolved benefit, PADP.
Both benefits provide either £76.70 or £114.60 per week and, as they are typically issued every four weeks, this amounts to either £306.80 or £458.40 every payment period. It's important to be aware that Attendance Allowance and PADP are paid in arrears.
How much someone receives depends on the level of support needed. The benefit is designed to help people of State Pension age with daily living expenses, which can also help them stay independent in their own home for longer. There is no mobility component attached to Attendance Allowance.
Most claimed conditions
The list of conditions supported through Attendance Allowance and PADP is long – more than 45 – but the most common disabling condition, an umbrella term used by the DWP, is arthritis, which provides support for 512,275 people across England and Wales.
The 10 conditions listed below are supporting 1.3 million (75%) of the 1.7 million total number of people receiving Attendance Allowance payments. Medical conditions are sourced from information recorded on the DWP's Attendance Allowance computer system. It's important to be aware that this is not a checklist for claiming Attendance Allowance; it is intended to help people understand what type of conditions are being supported.
The figures below are for Attendance Allowance in March 2026 and include claimants from Scotland, England and Wales:
- Arthritis – 512,275
- Dementia – 171,066
- Heart Disease – 129,336
- Respiratory Disorders and Diseases – 108,670
- Disease of the Muscles, Bones or Joints – 89,457
- Back Pain – 79,685
- Cerebrovascular Disease – 71,860
- Malignant Disease – 62,284
- Visual Disorders and Diseases – 49,065
- Parkinson's Disease – 45,037
Total: 1,318,430
Who should claim
You should apply for Attendance Allowance or PADP if you have a disability or illness and need help or supervision throughout the day or at times during the night – even if you don't currently get that help. This might include help with your personal care, such as getting dressed, eating or drinking, getting in and out of bed, bathing or showering and going to the toilet, or help to stay safe.
You should also apply if you have difficulties with personal tasks, for example if they take you a long time, you experience pain or you need physical help, like a chair to lean on. Attendance Allowance isn't just for people with a physical disability or illness. You should also claim if you need help or supervision throughout the day or night and have a mental health condition, learning difficulties, or a sensory condition such as being deaf or visually impaired.
People aged 66 and over in Scotland should make a claim for Pension Age Disability Payment, which is administered and delivered by Social Security Scotland. Full details can be found on MYGOV.SCOT.
How much you could get
You could receive either £76.70 (lower rate) or £114.60 (higher rate) each week. 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.
Attendance Allowance isn't means-tested, so it doesn't matter what other money you have coming in or how much you have in savings – there's no limit. It is also tax-free, and you will be exempt from the Benefit Cap, so you won't have money taken away from any other benefits. It won't affect your State Pension, and you can even claim it if you're still working and earning money.
The other benefits you get might increase if you get Attendance Allowance, including Extra Pension Credit, Housing Benefit Reduction, and Council Tax Reduction.
You will need to complete a long claim form when you apply for Attendance Allowance. It might seem daunting at first, but help is available from Citizens Advice and Independent Age. Full details of how to get the application form by post or over the phone can be found on the GOV.UK website.
Pension Age Disability Payment eligibility
If you are thinking about applying for Attendance Allowance when you reach State Pension age, you might be better off claiming Personal Independence Payment (PIP) straight away – you may be able to get more money.
You cannot claim Attendance Allowance if you live in Scotland; you will need to claim the devolved benefit Pension Age Disability Payment instead. You won't be able to get Attendance Allowance if you already get PIP or Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to pay for your care. If you apply for Attendance Allowance while getting DLA, the DWP will usually reassess your DLA award instead. You can renew your PIP or DLA when the existing award ends as long as you still meet the eligibility criteria. If your renewal is unsuccessful, you can apply for Attendance Allowance instead.
You can apply for Pension Age Disability Payment if you have reached State Pension age and have had care needs during the day or night for 6 months or more because of a disability or health condition. You can still apply if you have not had care needs for 6 months or more – your award will begin 6 months from when your care needs started if your application is successful – or if you are waiting for, or do not have, a diagnosis. There is a separate fast-track application process if you're terminally ill. It's important to be aware you cannot get Pension Age Disability Payment and Attendance Allowance at the same time.
You can apply for the devolved benefit online, by phone or post, with full details on the MYGOV.SCOT website. The Social Security Independent Advocacy Service, funded by the Scottish Government, provides support from an independent advocate. Advice Direct Scotland is the provider of this service through their dedicated platform advocacy.scot. You can contact Advice Direct Scotland by calling 0808 196 8901 or emailing support@advocacy.scot. Social Security Scotland can also help you to apply for Pension Age Disability Payment.
