Over 1.7 million people across Great Britain are already receiving the DWP support
The latest Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) figures have revealed that nearly 1.7 million people over the state pension age are receiving Attendance Allowance, a lesser known benefit that provides up to £458.40 a month for people with a disability, long-term illness, physical or mental health condition.
Similar to PIP or the Pension Age Disability Payment (PADP) in Scotland, Attendance Allowance provides support based on the level of help a person requires. It’s not specifically based on what their diagnosis is or what type of help they are already receiving.
However, the DWP figures have revealed 48 specific health conditions that are recorded on successful Attendance Allowance claims, according to the Daily Record.
Attendance Allowance conditions:
- Disease Of The Muscles, Bones or Joints
- Learning Difficulties
- Coronavirus covid-19
- Hyperkinetic Syndrome
- Haemophilia
- Cerebrovascular Disease
- Arthritis
- Back Pain – Other / Precise Diagnosis not Specified
- Metabolic Disease
- Major Trauma Other than Traumatic/Paraplegia
- Trauma to Limbs
- AIDS
- Bowel and Stomach Disease
- Frailty –
- Personality Disorder
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Traumatic Paraplegia
- Heart Disease
- Chronic Pain Syndromes
- Spondylosis
- Renal Disorders
- Multiple Allergy Syndrome
- Multi System Disorders
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Psychosis
- Motor Neurone Disease
- Parkinson’s
- Visual Disorders and Diseases
- Blood Disorders
- Viral disease – precise diagnosis not specified
- Skin Disease
- Epilepsy
- Dementia
- Tuberculosis
- Peripheral vascular Disease
- Behavioral Disorder
- Cognitive disorder (other)
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Haemodialysis
- Alcohol and Drug Abuse
- Psychoneurosis
- Hearing Disorders
- Neurological Diseases
- Bacterial disease – precise diagnois not specified
- Respiratory Disorders and Diseases
- Asthma
- Malignant Disease
- Diabetes Mellitus
It’s paid at two different rates, £76.70 or £114.60 per week, depending on how much support a person requires and despite the name, people don’t need to spend this money on attendants or carers. Instead, it can be spent on tools and adaptations that can keep them independent.
To be eligible, you must have a physical disability, mental disability or a health condition that is severe enough for you to need help or supervision for your own or someone else’s safety. You must have needed that help for at least six months to be eligible although people nearing the end of life will have different rules for this.
Some examples of the help required to be eligible include needing another person or equipment to help you take care of yourself – for example if you need someone to help you get dressed, require mobility equipment to get out of bed or you need assistance bathing.
People with mental health conditions, learning difficulties or sensory conditions, such as being deaf or visually impaired, are also advised to apply for the support according to the Daily Record.
You must also:
- Be in Great Britain when you claim – there are some exceptions, such as members and family members of the armed forces
- Have been in Great Britain for at least 2 of the last 3 years
- Be habitually resident in the UK, Ireland, Isle of Man or the Channel Islands
- Not be subject to immigration control (unless you’re a sponsored immigrant)
People who already receive Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, Adult Disability Payment, Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance or Armed Forces Independence Payment cannot get Attendance Allowance. More information about Attendance Allowance can be found on the Gov.uk website.
