State Pensioners with a range of medical issues may qualify for up to £441 every four weeks. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has updated its list of supported conditions for Attendance Allowance, benefitting nearly 1.7 million elderly people across the UK.
Attendance Allowance is a non-means-tested, tax-free benefit that helps older individuals manage the financial pressures of daily care. It supports people of State Pension age who need assistance due to a physical or mental health condition but wish to maintain independence at home.
The benefit pays either £73.90 or £110.40 per week, depending on the level of care required. Paid every four weeks, this results in payments of £295.60 or £441.60, amounting to an annual total of £5,740.80, according to data from the DWP covering the period up to August 2024.
Medical Conditions Supported by Attendance Allowance
Attendance Allowance is granted for a wide range of conditions, with arthritis being the most commonly reported.
According to the DWP, arthritis accounts for 47% of current claims, followed closely by neurological diseases and heart disease, each cited in 50% of cases. Some conditions, such as multiple sclerosis (52%) and traumatic paraplegia (54%), have higher than average rates of claim.
A total of 48 conditions are included in the DWP’s breakdown. These span both physical and mental health categories, including visual and hearing disorders, dementia (20%), epilepsy (44%), and personality disorders (48%). Notably, frailty is cited in 100% of the relevant claims, highlighting the benefit’s role in supporting general age-related decline.
Certain rare or lower-reported conditions such as tuberculosis (53%), haemodialysis (22%), and coronavirus-related issues (1%) are also recognised. The figures are not eligibility criteria in themselves, but illustrate the diversity of needs among current claimants.
Here are the list for all the conditions :
- Epilepsy – 44%
- Neurological Diseases – 50%
- Multiple Sclerosis – 52%
- Parkinsons – 30%
- Motor Neurone Disease – 32%
- Chronic Pain Syndromes – 39%
- Diabetes Mellitus – 39%
- Metabolic Disease – 38%
- Traumatic Paraplegia – 54%
- Major Trauma Other than Traumatic/Paraplegia – 45%
- Learning Difficulties – 48%
- Psychosis – 44%
- Arthritis – 47%
- Spondylosis – 48%
- Back Pain – Other / Precise Diagnosis not Specified – 43%
- Disease Of The Muscles, Bones or Joints – 40%
- Trauma to Limbs – 36%
- Visual Disorders and Diseases – 41%
- Hearing Disorders – 42%
- Heart Disease – 50%
- Respiratory Disorders and Diseases – 33%
- Asthma – 47%
- Cystic Fibrosis – 27%
- Cerebrovascular Disease – 42%
- Peripheral vascular Disease – 41%
- Psychoneurosis – 38%
- Personality Disorder – 48%
- Dementia – 20%
- Behavioral Disorder – 28%
- Alcohol and Drug Abuse – 37%
- Hyperkinetic Syndrome – 27%
- Renal Disorders – 26%
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease – 42%
- Bowel and Stomach Disease – 37%
- Blood Disorders – 39%
- Haemophilia – 39%
- Multi System Disorders – 41%
- Multiple Allergy Syndrome – 44%
- Skin Disease – 37%
- Malignant Disease – 35%
- Haemodialysis – 22%
- Frailty – 100%
- AIDS – 47%
- Coronavirus covid-19 – 1%
- Viral disease – precise diagnosis not specified – 13%
- Tuberculosis – 53%
- Bacterial disease – precise diagnosis not specified – 43%
- Cognitive disorder (other) – 22%
Eligibility and Application Process
Eligibility for Attendance Allowance does not require a formal diagnosis of one of the listed conditions. Instead, individuals must demonstrate a need for care or supervision, either during the day, at night, or both.
This can include help with personal care activities such as washing, dressing, or eating, or supervision for safety due to cognitive or sensory impairments.
Applicants must complete a detailed claim form, which assesses their needs and how the condition affects their daily life. The DWP advises that help is available through organisations such as Citizens Advice, which provides guidance on completing the form.
Special provisions also exist for those diagnosed with a terminal illness, allowing for an expedited claim process. Full information on how to apply, including downloadable forms and postal options, is available on the GOV.UK website.
