Millions of people are being urged to check if they qualify for a support payment worth more than £400 a month. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) sends out attendance allowance to more than 1.5 million people.
The benefit is given to help with extra costs if you have a disability which is severe enough that you need someone to help look after you. It has two rates and the amount you get depends on the level of care you require. If you are physically or mentally disabled, or of state pension age or older, you could be eligible for the money.
There are some really common medical conditions that could see you qualify for the money – here is everything you need to know about attendance allowance. To get all the latest money-saving news straight to your inbox twice a week sign up here.
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What is attendance allowance and how much is it?
Attendance allowance is given if you have a disability severe enough that you need someone to help look after you. It’s paid at two different rates depending on the level of care that you need because of your disability.
It does not cover mobility needs but the other benefits you get can increase if you get attendance allowance. Attendance allowance is not means-tested which means that the amount you get is not impactd by what you earn through working or other income.
The lower rate is given if you have frequent help or constant supervision during the day, or supervision at night. The higher rate is given if you have help or supervision throughout both day and night, or a medical professional has said you might have 12 months or less to live.
Both the lower and higher rates increased by 6.7% in April 2024/25 and are now as follows:
- Lower rate – £72.65 – Frequent help or constant supervision during the day, or supervision at night
- Higher rate – £108.55 – Help or supervision throughout both day and night, or a medical professional has said you might have 12 months or less to live
What medical conditions qualify for attendance allowance?
According to the DWP’s official guidance, there are 57 main medical conditions that could qualify you for attendance allowance. They are as follows:
- Arthritis
- Spondylosis
- Back pain – other/precise diagnosis not specified
- Disease of the muscles, bones or joints
- Trauma to limbs
- Visual disorders and diseases
- Hearing disorders
- Heart disease
- Respiratory disorders and diseases
- Asthma
- Cystic fibrosis
- Cerebrovascular disease
- Peripheral vascular disease
- Epilepsy
- Neurological diseases
- Multiple sclerosis
- Parkinson’s disease
- Motor neurone disease
- Chronic pain syndromes
- Diabetes mellitus
- Metabolic disease
- Traumatic paraplegia/tetraplegia
- Major trauma other than traumatic paraplegia/tetraplegia
- Learning difficulties
- Psychosis
- Psychoneurosis
- Personality Disorder
- Dementia
- Behavioural disorder
- Alcohol and drug abuse
- Hyperkinetic syndrome
- Renal disorders
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Bowel and stomach disease
- Blood disorders
- Haemophilia
- Multi system disorders
- Multiple allergy syndrome
- Skin disease
- Malignant disease
- Severely mentally impaired
- Double amputee
- Deaf/blind
- Haemodialysis
- Frailty
- Total parenteral nutrition
- AIDS
- Infectious diseases: viral disease – Covid-19
- Infectious diseases: viral disease – precise diagnosis not specified
- Infectious diseases: bacterial disease – tuberculosis
- Infectious diseases: bacterial disease – precise diagnosis not specified
- Infectious diseases: protozoal disease – malaria
- Infectious diseases: protozoal disease – other/precise diagnosis not specified
- Infectious diseases – other / precise diagnosis not specified
- Cognitive disorder – other / precise diagnosis not specified
- Terminally Ill
- Unknown
What do these conditions cover?
According to the official guidance, the above conditions include the following which might qualify you:
Washing, bathing and looking after your appearance:
- getting in and out of the bath or shower
- adjusting shower controls
- Shaving
- putting on skin creams
- washing or drying your hair
Going to the toilet:
- adjusting your clothes after using the toilet
- using the toilet at night
- changing clothes or bedding if you have an accident
Help with medical treatment:
- reading and understanding instructions about taking medication
- managing a condition such as diabetes
- recognising if your condition deteriorates
- adjusting your hearing aid
Supervision:
- someone to watch over you in case you have a fall or seizure or pass out
- someone to watch over you because you lack awareness