The UK Government’s Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is currently offering financial support of up to £441.60 every four weeks under the Attendance Allowance scheme. This benefit is designed specifically for people over the State Pension age who need help due to long-term health conditions or disabilities — covering a wide range of 48 qualifying medical conditions.

What Is Attendance Allowance?

Attendance Allowance is a non-means-tested, tax-free benefit that helps cover the extra costs of living with a disability or serious health condition. Unlike other forms of support, it does not depend on income or savings and is aimed solely at meeting the care or supervision needs of individuals who require help with daily living.

According to GOV.UK, the benefit is available in two weekly rates:

• Lower Rate: £73.90 per week (equivalent to £295.60 every four weeks) — for individuals who need help either during the day or at night.
• Higher Rate: £110.40 per week (equivalent to £441.60 every four weeks) — for those needing assistance both during the day and night or those living with a terminal illness.

Who Is Eligible?

To qualify for Attendance Allowance, an applicant must:

• Be over the State Pension age (currently 66).
• Have a physical or mental disability or health condition.
• Require help with personal care or supervision to remain safe.
• Have required that help for at least six months (unless terminally ill, in which case this waiting period is waived).

It’s important to note that you can qualify even if you do not currently have a caregiver, as the focus is on the need for care — not whether that care is being received.

What Conditions Qualify?

More than 48 different health conditions are known to make individuals potentially eligible for Attendance Allowance. These include, but are not limited to:

• Dementia
• Arthritis
• Parkinson’s disease
• Diabetes mellitus
• Blindness or visual impairment
• Heart disease
• Chronic pain
• Cancer
• Mental health disorders
• Neurological disorders like multiple sclerosis or motor neurone disease

A more comprehensive list can be viewed in public resources such as the article from Econostrum and official documents on the GOV.UK website.

How To Apply

Claiming Attendance Allowance involves a simple form and no in-person assessments in most cases. Here’s how to apply:

1. Download the form from the GOV.UK website.
2. Or request a paper copy by calling the DWP helpline: 0800 731 0122.
3. Complete the form with detailed information about your condition and care needs.
4. Send the form to:
   Freepost DWP Attendance Allowance
   (no stamp or postcode is required).

Once submitted, applicants typically receive a response or decision within three weeks via post or text message.

Additional Benefits Linked to Attendance Allowance

Receiving Attendance Allowance may also boost eligibility for other state benefits, such as:

• Pension Credit
• Housing Benefit
• Council Tax Reduction

For those already claiming such benefits, it’s crucial to inform the relevant departments, as receiving Attendance Allowance can result in an increase in entitlements.

Why This Matters

The rising cost of living is hitting older people the hardest, especially those with long-term health issues. This allowance helps to ease the burden for many who may not even realise they qualify. The benefit is untaxed, unaffected by income, and offers peace of mind to pensioners struggling with the everyday challenges of health deterioration.

As former DWP staff and charities like Age UK have pointed out, thousands of eligible pensioners miss out on Attendance Allowance each year due to lack of awareness or confusion over eligibility. That’s why it’s essential to check eligibility and encourage others who might qualify to apply.

This article has been carefully fact-checked by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and eliminate any misleading information. We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity in our content.