A significant update is on the horizon for millions of older adults receiving Attendance Allowance and other support from the UK government. As highlighted by DevonLive, a change scheduled for April 2025 could affect how much many pensioners receive each month.
While details are now confirmed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), the increase ties into wider adjustments aimed at supporting those with long-term health conditions or disabilities. Here’s what we know so far.
Revised Rates for 2025/26 Financial Year
From early April, the lower weekly rate of Attendance Allowance will increase to £73.90, while the higher rate will move to £110.40. This equates to monthly payments of either £295.60 or £441.60, delivered every four weeks.
Over the course of the financial year 2025/26, this could amount to £5,740.80 for eligible recipients. These payments are tax-free and not affected by income or savings, making them accessible to a wide range of people of State Pension age living with long-term health conditions or disabilities.
Who Can Claim Attendance Allowance
Attendance Allowance is aimed at individuals of State Pension age who have a disability, illness or mental health condition that makes daily living difficult. Applicants do not need to be currently receiving help from another person to be eligible—what matters is that they need help or supervision.
You may qualify if you require assistance with personal care tasks such as dressing, bathing, using the toilet, eating, or getting in and out of bed. Eligibility also applies if daily activities take a long time, cause discomfort, or if you rely on aids like a chair for support.
Additionally, individuals who need regular supervision during the day or night to stay safe may also be eligible.
The allowance does not include a mobility component, and receiving it does not require having a carer. However, a carer may be entitled to Carer’s Allowance if you are awarded Attendance Allowance.
Full List of Supported Health Conditions
Although eligibility is based on the impact a condition has on daily life and not on the diagnosis itself, the following 48 health conditions are known to be supported by the DWP Attendance Allowance system :
- Psychoneurosis
- Diabetes Mellitus
- Blood Disorders
- Infectious diseases: Viral disease – Coronavirus COVID-19
- Psychosis
- Haemodialysis
- Personality Disorder
- Chronic Pain Syndromes
- Multi System Disorders
- Bowel and Stomach Disease
- Learning Difficulties
- Asthma
- Hearing Disorders
- Skin Disease
- Spondylosis
- Renal Disorders
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Arthritis
- Behavioural Disorder
- Motor Neurone Disease
- Dementia
- Epilepsy
- Trauma to Limbs
- Haemophilia
- Major Trauma (other than traumatic paraplegia/tetraplegia)
- Metabolic Disease
- Frailty
- Malignant Disease
- Neurological Diseases
- Peripheral Vascular Disease
- Respiratory Disorders and Diseases
- Disease of the Muscles, Bones or Joints
- Traumatic Paraplegia/Tetraplegia
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Visual Disorders and Diseases
- Back Pain
- Cerebrovascular Disease
- Deaf/Blind
- Alcohol and Drug Abuse
- Heart Disease
- AIDS
- Total Parenteral Nutrition
- Hyperkinetic Syndrome
- Double Amputee
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Multiple Allergy Syndrome
- Severely Mentally Impaired
This list is not a checklist for eligibility, but it gives an overview of the kinds of conditions commonly supported.
How to Claim Attendance Allowance
A detailed claim form must be completed to apply. Although the process can seem complex, help is available from organizations such as Citizens Advice and Independent Age. The form can be requested by post or phone via the official GOV.UK website.
The application asks you to describe how your condition affects your daily life, especially tasks involving :
- Personal hygiene
- Eating and drinking
- Getting dressed
- Managing medication
- Staying safe during the day or night
It’s important to include details even if you don’t currently receive help—what matters is whether you need it. For more details or to check eligibility, the official guidance is available.
Attendance Allowance and Other Benefits
Receiving Attendance Allowance may open access to additional financial support, including Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, and Council Tax Reduction.
The benefit is not ring-fenced, allowing recipients to use the funds as they see fit—whether to cover transport costs, household bills, or to hire help such as a cleaner or gardener.
Changes for Residents in Scotland
In Scotland, Attendance Allowance is being gradually replaced by the Pension Age Disability Payment (PADP). Individuals living in certain areas such as Aberdeen, Highland, or the Orkney Islands already apply through Social Security Scotland. For others, the transition will begin in spring 2025, with automatic migration for those already receiving the benefit.
Those moving from Scotland to England or Wales will need to apply for Attendance Allowance through the DWP. The PADP will stop 13 weeks after the move, so early application is advised to prevent payment interruptions.
The increase in Attendance Allowance aims to strengthen financial support for older people facing health challenges, enabling many to continue living independently. By ensuring better awareness of eligibility and offering a straightforward claims process, the DWP seeks to improve access to this vital form of assistance in the year ahead.
