Individuals living with certain severe health conditions may be eligible for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Attendance Allowance, which provides a crucial financial lifeline.
The allowance is designed to assist those who require help with daily tasks or constant supervision due to their disability. Here’s a detailed look at the conditions that could make you eligible and the benefits associated with this support.
What is Attendance Allowance?
Attendance Allowance is a non-means-tested benefit, available to individuals over State Pension age who have a physical or mental disability.
Unlike other benefits, this one is specifically focused on providing extra assistance to those whose conditions impair their ability to live independently. The support is not determined by income or savings, making it accessible to those who need it most.
According to the DWP, Attendance Allowance is available in two rates: the lower rate for those who require frequent assistance or supervision, and the higher rate for individuals who need both day and night supervision.
The lower rate offers £73.90 per week, while the higher rate offers £110.40. Both amounts have seen a recent increase from the previous year, underlining the importance of this allowance as an essential source of support for the elderly and vulnerable.
Health Conditions That May Qualify for Attendance Allowance
The DWP has outlined a comprehensive list of health conditions that may make individuals eligible for Attendance Allowance. These conditions include a range of physical and mental disorders, from chronic pain to neurological diseases.
Arthritis, back pain, and spondylosis are common conditions that could make people eligible for support. Conditions like epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease are also listed, as they often require significant care.
Diabetes, heart disease, and respiratory disorders may similarly qualify individuals for the allowance due to the chronic nature of these diseases, which can limit the person’s ability to manage day-to-day activities without assistance.
Additionally, learning difficulties, dementia, and psychosis fall under mental health conditions that may entitle individuals to the benefit. Traumatic paraplegia and terminal illness are other qualifying conditions. The common thread between these conditions is the level of care required to help individuals manage their daily lives.
Full List of Qualifying Conditions:
- 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
- Parkinson’s 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 (e.g., Covid-19)
- Infectious diseases: viral disease (precise diagnosis not specified)
- Infectious diseases: bacterial disease (e.g., tuberculosis)
- Infectious diseases: bacterial disease (precise diagnosis not specified)
- Infectious diseases: protozoal disease (e.g., 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
Importantly, the condition does not have to be specifically mentioned to qualify, as the DWP considers each case individually. For those experiencing these conditions, applying for Attendance Allowance could significantly ease the financial burden, especially when care from a family member or professional is necessary.
To apply for Attendance Allowance, individuals can either complete a form online or send it via post to the DWP.
The application process requires individuals to detail the level of care or supervision they need. According to the DWP, applicants can also contact the Attendance Allowance helpline to request the application form in different formats, including braille or audio CD, ensuring accessibility for all applicants.
