The DWP benefit if tax-free and is not means-tested
State pensioners with certain health conditions could be eligible for over £5,700 in additional support from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Older Brits are being urged to check if they qualify for Attendance Allowance.
This benefit is not means-tested and offers either £73.90 or £110.40 a week, depending on your care needs. You need to be of state pension age to apply.
The scheme is designed to help cover the extra costs associated with a disability or health condition where you need help from someone else, reports the Daily Record. Payments are typically made every four weeks, meaning recipients receive either £295.60 or £441.60 each pay period.
This equates to up to £5,740.80 annually, or £478.40 monthly. The benefit aims to support people who live with either disabilities, chronic illnesses, or mental or physical health issues. You do not need to have a carer in order to make a claim.
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A wide range of health conditions are covered by Attendance Allowance, with arthritis being the most common disabling condition – a term used by the DWP.
Previous DWP figures showed these were some of the most common 48 conditions:
- Arthritis – 47%.
- Spondylosis – 48%.
- Back Pain – Other / Precise Diagnosis not Specified – 43%.
- Disease Of The Muscles, Bones or Joints – 40%.
- Trauma to Limbs – 36%.
- Visual Disorders and Diseases – 41%.
- Hearing Disorders – 42%.
- Heart Disease – 50%.
- Respiratory Disorders and Diseases – 33%.
- Asthma – 47%.
- Cystic Fibrosis – 27%.
- Cerebrovascular Disease – 42%.
- Peripheral vascular Disease – 41%.
- Epilepsy – 44%.
- Neurological Diseases – 50%.
- Multiple Sclerosis – 52%.
- Parkinson’s – 30%.
- Motor Neurone Disease – 32%.
- Chronic Pain Syndromes – 39%.
- Diabetes Mellitus – 39%.
- Metabolic Disease – 38%.
- Traumatic Paraplegia – 54%.
- Major Trauma Other than Traumatic/Paraplegia – 45%.
- Learning Difficulties – 48%.
- Psychosis – 44%.
- Psychoneurosis – 38%.
- Personality Disorder – 48%.
- Dementia – 20%.
- Behavioural Disorder – 28%.
- Alcohol and Drug Abuse – 37%.
- Hyperkinetic Syndrome – 27%.
- Renal Disorders – 26%.
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease – 42%.
- Bowel and Stomach Disease – 37%.
- Blood Disorders – 39%.
- Haemophilia – 39%.
- Multi System Disorders – 41%.
- Multiple Allergy Syndrome – 44%.
- Skin Disease – 37%.
- Malignant Disease – 35%.
- Haemodialysis – 22%.
- Frailty – 100%.
- AIDS – 47%.
- Coronavirus covid-19 – 1%.
- Viral disease – precise diagnosis not specified – 13%.
- Tuberculosis – 53%.
- Bacterial disease – precise diagnosis not specified – 43%.
- Cognitive disorder (other) – 22%.
Who is eligible for Attendance Allowance from the DWP?
If you are living with a disability or illness and need help or supervision throughout the day or at times during the night – even if you’re not currently receiving that help – you might want to think about applying for Attendance Allowance. This could include needing help with personal care, such as getting dressed, eating or drinking, getting in and out of bed, bathing or showering, and using the toilet.
You might also want to apply if you struggle with personal tasks, for instance, if they take you a long time, cause you discomfort, or if you need physical support, like a chair to lean on. Attendance Allowance isn’t just available for people with a physical disability or illness.
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You could also claim if you have a mental health condition, learning difficulties, or a sensory condition, such as if you are deaf or visually impaired, and you need extra help. Attendance Allowance isn’t means-tested, so your other income or savings won’t affect it.
It is also tax-free and you will be exempt from the benefit cap, meaning you won’t have money deducted from any other benefits if you claim. It won’t impact your state pension entitlement and you can even claim it if you’re still employed and earning money in this way.
Claiming Attendance Allowance could also potentially increase your Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction. To find out if this is the case, you can ring the helpline or office that handles whichever of these benefits you’re claiming.
