Nearly 1.7 million older people in Great Britain are receiving Attendance Allowance, while a further 185,895 in Scotland receive the devolved Pension Age Disability Payment (PADP). Both benefits pay either £76.70 or £114.60 per week, typically issued every four weeks, meaning payments of £306.80 or £458.40 per period.
What are the 48 qualifying conditions?
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) records 48 health conditions as part of the Attendance Allowance claims process. The most common is arthritis, which supports 503,389 people across Great Britain.
The full list includes: arthritis, spondylosis, back pain (other or precise diagnosis not specified), 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, Parkinson's, motor neurone disease, chronic pain syndromes, diabetes mellitus, metabolic disease, traumatic paraplegia, major trauma other than traumatic/paraplegia, learning difficulties, psychosis, psychoneurosis, personality disorder, dementia, behavioral 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, haemodialysis, frailty, AIDS, coronavirus covid-19, viral disease (precise diagnosis not specified), tuberculosis, bacterial disease (precise diagnosis not specified) and cognitive disorder (other).
Who can claim and how much is paid?
Attendance Allowance is available to people over State Pension age who have a disability or illness and need help or supervision during the day or at night, even if that help is not currently being received. This includes help with personal care such as dressing, eating, bathing or going to the toilet, or help to stay safe. It also covers those with mental health conditions, learning difficulties, or sensory conditions such as deafness or visual impairment.
The benefit is not means-tested, so savings and other income do not affect eligibility. It is tax-free and exempt from the Benefit Cap. Claiming it does not affect State Pension, and it can be claimed while still working. It may increase other benefits such as Pension Credit, Housing Benefit reduction and Council Tax reduction.
How to claim and who cannot claim
Claims require a long form, with help available from Citizens Advice and Independent Age. In Scotland, people aged 66 and over should claim Pension Age Disability Payment through Social Security Scotland instead. Attendance Allowance cannot be claimed alongside PIP or DLA, and the two benefits cannot be paid simultaneously.
