Starting from April 7, pensioners receiving Attendance Allowance (AA) for long-term health conditions will benefit from a significant increase in their weekly payments. This change, affecting nearly 1.7 million individuals, could provide up to £6,000 in additional funds throughout the year.
According to DevonLive, this adjustment aims to support those facing additional daily living costs due to various health challenges. Further details are yet to be fully revealed, but the increase marks an important shift for many pensioners.
Overview of the Increase
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) provides Attendance Allowance to pensioners who need help managing their daily living costs due to physical or mental health conditions. From April 7, the weekly rates will increase to :
- £73.90 for the lower rate, totaling £295.60 every four weeks.
- £110.40 for the higher rate, totaling £441.60 every four weeks.
These payments are tax-free and not means-tested, ensuring that individuals’ income or savings do not affect eligibility. Over the 2025/26 financial year, recipients could receive up to £5,740.80.
Impact in Scotland
The decision will affect 149,000 pensioners residing in Scotland, despite Attendance Allowance being replaced by the Pension Age Disability Payment (PADP) by the end of the year. The PADP program, which will replace Attendance Allowance for new claims in Scotland, will be rolled out nationally starting April 2025.
Additionally, 13 council areas will begin offering PADP later this month, with a full nationwide rollout set for April. PADP will not require face-to-face assessments unless specifically requested by the claimant.
This change is already in place in regions such as Argyll and Bute, Highlands, Aberdeen City, Orkney, and Shetland, where Attendance Allowance has been replaced for new claims.
Eligible health conditions
The Attendance Allowance and PADP are designed to support individuals with a wide range of conditions that significantly impact their ability to care for themselves. The list of qualifying conditions includes, but is not limited to :
- Psychoneurosis
- Dementia
- Learning Difficulties
- Neurological Diseases
- Heart Disease
- Hearing Disorders
- AIDS
- Double Amputee
- Back Pain
- Major Trauma (excluding Traumatic Paraplegia/Tetraplegia)
- Personality Disorder
- Haemodialysis
- Multi-System Disorders
- Total Parenteral Nutrition
- Behavioural Disorder
- Chronic Pain Syndromes
- Diseases of the Muscles, Bones, or Joints
- Hyperkinetic Syndrome
- Frailty
- Malignant Disease
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Motor Neurone Disease
- Bowel and Stomach Diseases
- Severely Mentally Impaired
- Peripheral Vascular Disease
- Blood Disorders
- Renal Disorders
- Respiratory Diseases
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Arthritis
- Trauma to Limbs
- Alcohol and Drug Abuse
- Epilepsy
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Traumatic Paraplegia/Tetraplegia
- Visual Disorders
- Psychosis
- Asthma
- Haemophilia
- Deaf/Blind
- Viral Diseases (including COVID-19)
- Skin Disease
- Metabolic Disease
- Multiple Allergy Syndrome
- Cerebrovascular Disease
- Diabetes Mellitus
- Spondylosis
It’s important to note that this list is not a checklist for claiming Attendance Allowance or PADP, but rather provides an understanding of the types of conditions supported by these benefits.
How Much Could You Receive?
Starting from April 7, the weekly payments for Attendance Allowance will be £73.90 for the lower rate and £110.40 for the higher rate. This translates to £295.60 and £441.60 every four weeks, respectively.
Over the course of the 2025/26 financial year, recipients could receive a total amount of up to £5,740.80. These payments can be used for a variety of needs, including covering living expenses and helping individuals maintain their independence in their own homes.
Impact on state pension
Attendance Allowance will not affect your state pension and can be claimed even if you are still employed and earning money.
Receiving Attendance Allowance can potentially increase other benefits, including Pension Credit, Housing Benefit Reduction, or Council Tax Reduction.
To claim Attendance Allowance, individuals need to fill out a detailed claim form. Assistance is available through Citizens Advice and Independent Age. Full details on how to apply, including obtaining the application form via post or over the phone, can be found on the Gov.uk website.
For PADP claims, applications can be made online, by phone, or by post. Full details are available on the mygov.scot website.
Individuals who are already receiving PIP (Personal Independence Payment) or DLA (Disability Living Allowance) for care needs are ineligible to apply for Attendance Allowance. If already receiving DLA, individuals may have their DLA award reassessed or may need to apply for Attendance Allowance upon the end of their existing award.
For more information on eligibility and how to apply, individuals are encouraged to consult the official Gov.uk and mygov.scot websites.
