More than 51,000 people over State Pension age are receiving Attendance Allowance for visual disorders, according to the latest DWP figures cited in the source material. The figures show that 51,096 pensioners were in claim in August 2025.
Attendance Allowance is not awarded simply because someone has a named condition. It is based on how an illness, disability or sensory impairment affects a person’s daily life, including whether they need help with personal care or supervision to remain safe.
Full List of Eye Conditions Recorded by the DWP
The DWP list includes a wide range of visual disorders, from common sight problems to more serious retinal and optic nerve conditions. These include cataract, glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, optic neuritis, retinal detachment, retinal artery occlusion and retinal vein occlusion.
It also includes refractive and visual field conditions such as astigmatism, hypermetropia, myopia, presbyopia, tunnel vision, scotoma, hemianopia and quadrantanopia. Other recorded conditions include keratitis, keratoconus, scleritis, anterior uveitis, posterior vitreous detachment, vitreous haemorrhage and orbital cellulitis.
According to the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), people do not have to be registered as blind or partially sighted to claim Attendance Allowance. What matters is how their sight affects daily living. The organisation says registration can provide evidence of the seriousness of a sight problem, although other evidence, such as a letter from a consultant or GP, can also be used.
The list also covers conditions affecting eye movement and vision processing, including nystagmus, strabismus, amblyopia, cortical blindness and diplopia. It includes broader categories where the precise type is not known, such as other diseases of the conjunctiva, cornea, eyelids and lacrimal apparatus, as well as other diseases of the retina and optic nerve. The presence of a condition on the list does not mean automatic entitlement. The benefit is linked to care needs, not diagnosis alone.
Who Can Claim and How Much They May Receive
Attendance Allowance is for people who have reached State Pension age and have a long-term illness or disability. According to Carers UK, the benefit is extra money for those who need help with personal care or need someone to check they are safe.
For 2026/27, the lower rate is £76.70 a week and the higher rate is £114.60 a week. The higher rate applies to people who need help or supervision during both the day and night, or those who are terminally ill. The lower rate applies to people who need frequent help or constant supervision during the day, or supervision at night.
According to Citizens Advice, Attendance Allowance can be claimed by people with sensory conditions, including those who are deaf or blind, where they need help or supervision throughout the day or at night. The advice also states that claimants usually need to have had care or supervision needs for at least six months before receiving the benefit.
Age UK says the benefit is not means-tested or taxable, and savings or income do not affect a claim. It can be spent in whatever way helps the person remain independent, including help at home, equipment, meals or transport.
Claims are made by completing an Attendance Allowance form. Applicants can request one by calling the helpline or download it from GOV.UK. Evidence such as GP letters, care plans, appointment letters or prescription lists can support a claim, particularly where sight loss or another condition affects daily tasks.
