State pensioners with health conditions are receiving an extra £458 in May from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The DWP Attendance Allowance helps with extra costs if you have a disability or health condition severe enough that you need someone to help look after you.
How much can you get?
Attendance Allowance is paid at two different rates, depending on the level of care you need. You could receive either £76.70 or £114.60 per week to help with personal support if you meet the following criteria:
- You have a physical disability, a mental disability, or a health condition
- You have reached State Pension age (66 years old, born before 1960) or older
It is important to note that Attendance Allowance does not cover mobility needs. However, if you receive it, you may also be eligible for extra Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, or Council Tax Reduction.
Key features of Attendance Allowance
Attendance Allowance is not means-tested, meaning your income or savings do not affect what you get. You do not need to have someone caring for you to claim. The allowance is available if:
- You have a physical disability (including sensory disability such as blindness), a mental disability (including learning difficulties), or a health condition
- Your condition is severe enough that you need help caring for yourself or supervision for safety
- You have needed that help for at least six months
There are different eligibility rules if you are nearing the end of life due to a life-limiting illness. In such cases, you may receive Attendance Allowance more quickly and at a higher rate.
Residency and other conditions
To claim, you must be in Great Britain at the time of application, with some exceptions for armed forces members and their families. You must also have lived in Great Britain for at least two of the last three years (this does not apply to refugees or those with humanitarian protection status) and be habitually resident in the UK, Ireland, Isle of Man, or the Channel Islands. You must not be subject to immigration control unless you are a sponsored immigrant.
Additionally, you cannot receive Attendance Allowance if you are already getting Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Adult Disability Payment (ADP), Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance (SADLA), or Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP).
