Over 1.6million older people were claiming Attendance Allowance at the end of May 2024, with official figures showing the top 10 conditions providing pensioners with a cash boost via the Social Security benefit.
The benefit, which is usually paid every four weeks, is tax-free and isn’t means-tested, paying out either £72.65 at the lower rate or £108.55 on the higher rate each week.
Getting it will also not reduce entitlement to Pension Credit.
Attendance Allowance is usually paid every four weeks, giving eligible claimants £290.60 or £434.20 every pay period.
The weekly payments are set to increase to £73.90 (lower rate) and £110.40 (higher rate) in April as part of the Data from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) annual uprating.
The rise is in line with the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) rate of inflation in September, as per the House of Commons Library.
The amount people receive depends on the level of support required. It’s intended to help people of State Pension age cover daily living costs which can also help them remain independent in their own home for longer.
Attendance Allowance supports people living with a disability, long-term illness and mental or physical health issues but does not cover mobility needs.
It supports people with a number of conditions, but arthritis is the most common disabling condition—an umbrella term used by the department.
Nearly 461,000 people across Great Britain are receiving support via the benefit for arthritis across Great Britain.
You can find out more about eligibility and how to apply on the Government’s website here.
10 conditions are supporting 1,165,693 (74%) of the 1.6m total number of people that are getting Attendance Allowance payments, according to official data, as per The Daily Record.
The stats are sourced from information recorded on the department’s Attendance Allowance computer system.
The following list shows the conditions people are most commonly being supported by Attendance Allowance with. But it is not a checklist for claiming the benefit, and is intended to give people a sense of the sort of things that people can get extra help for.
People who require extra support during the day or night due to a long-term illness, disability or health condition should check official eligibility guidance.
Top conditions and number of claimants across Great Britain
- Arthritis
- Dementia
- Heart Disease
- Respiratory Conditions
- Disease Of The Muscles, Bones or Joints
- Cerebrovascular Disease
- Back Pain
- Visual Disorders and Diseases
- Parkinson’s
- Neurological Conditions
