The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed a list of 56 health conditions that could entitle state pensioners to receive up to £115 per week in Attendance Allowance starting in May. This benefit is designed to help individuals who have reached State Pension age and require assistance with personal care or supervision due to a physical or mental disability.
How Attendance Allowance Works
Attendance Allowance is paid weekly at two different rates, depending on the level of help needed. The lower rate, currently £76.70, is for those who need frequent help or constant supervision during the day, or supervision at night. The higher rate, £114.60, is for those who require help or supervision throughout both day and night, or if a medical professional has stated that the individual is nearing the end of life.
Importantly, Attendance Allowance is not means-tested, meaning that your income or savings do not affect your eligibility. You can qualify if you have a physical disability (including sensory disabilities like blindness), a mental disability (including learning difficulties), or a health condition severe enough to require help with personal care or supervision for safety reasons.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify, you must have reached State Pension age (born before 1960) and have needed help for at least six months. Different rules apply for those nearing the end of life. The DWP does not maintain a complete list of qualifying conditions, but statistics reveal the number of claimants per condition, highlighting common ailments.
List of Qualifying Conditions
The following conditions are among those that have been reported by claimants:
- Arthritis
- Spondylosis
- Back Pain – Other / 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
- Parkinsons 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
For more information, visit the official DWP website or consult with a benefits advisor.
