The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has confirmed that Attendance Allowance has been increased to £459 for four-week pay periods, starting from this year. This inflationary rise means state pensioners can receive more financial support from the welfare department.
33 Medical Conditions Listed by DWP
The DWP has published statistics outlining 33 medical conditions that qualify claimants for Attendance Allowance. The lower rate is awarded to individuals who require help either during the day or at night, while the higher rate is for those who need assistance both day and night. People with a terminal illness, as defined under Attendance Allowance rules, automatically receive the higher rate.
Eligibility Criteria
You can claim Attendance Allowance if you have reached State Pension age and have a physical disability (including sensory disabilities like blindness), a mental disability (including learning difficulties), or a health condition. Additionally, your condition must be severe enough that you need help caring for yourself or require supervision for safety reasons. This need must have existed for at least six months.
Attendance Allowance is not means-tested, meaning your income or savings do not affect eligibility. The payment is made weekly at two rates, depending on the level of care needed. The higher rate is £114 per week, which amounts to just under £460 over a month.
Full List of 33 Conditions
- Dementia (including Alzheimer's disease)
- Parkinson's disease
- Stroke after-effects
- Memory impairment
- Brain injury
- Depression or anxiety affecting daily functioning
- Learning disabilities
- Osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis
- Osteoporosis
- Chronic joint or back pain
- Hip or knee replacements
- Fibromyalgia
- Severe sciatica
- Balance problems or frequent falls
- Use of walking aids
- Heart disease or heart failure
- Angina
- COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)
- Emphysema
- Severe or poorly controlled asthma
- Multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Epilepsy
- Motor neurone disease (MND)
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Severe sight loss
- Hearing loss causing communication difficulties
- Cancer and treatment side effects
- Diabetes with complications
- Incontinence or bladder conditions
- Chronic fatigue syndrome / ME
- End-of-life care needs
- Recovery following surgery
This increase provides vital additional income for pensioners managing these health challenges.
