Recent figures released by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) indicate an increase in the number of older individuals receiving additional monetary support through Attendance Allowance. As per the data provided, over 1.5 million elderly citizens were beneficiaries of this non-means tested perk as of August 2023. This includes more than 136,200 individuals residing in Glasgow and wider Scotland.

The Attendance Allowance, paid on either a lower rate of £72.65 or a higher rate of £108.55 every week, accumulates to either £290.60 or £434.20 over a four-week pay period. This adds up to an approximate annual sum of £5,644.60 during the 2024/25 financial year.

The actual payout depends on the level of support required by the claimant. The achievement of this benefit is primarily intended to ease the daily living costs of State Pension age citizens, and thereby enhance their capacity to maintain independence and prolong their stay in their own homes.

The Attendance Allowance also caters to individuals with disabilities, chronic ailments and mental or physical health complications. Various conditions such as arthritis are supported under this arrangement. Some figures suggest around 435,340 individuals across Great Britain, including 39,735 in Scotland, are receiving aid for arthritis through this mechanism.

August 2023 Attendance Allowance Beneficiary Count

  • Scotland – 136,252
  • England – 1,283,729
  • Wales – 100,567
  • Abroad – 4,836
  • Total – 1,525,421

Health Conditions Supported by Attendance Allowance

Besides arthritis, the Attendance Allowance is extended towards a multitude of other health complications. Please visit the official Attendance Allowance guidelines on the GOV.UK website here for complete eligibility criteria tailored towards each specific case.

Additionally, the benefit is offered to approximately 43,295 terminally ill individuals across the nation.

What is Attendance Allowance?

The Attendance Allowance plays a pivotal role in easing the financial burden of individuals suffering from severe physical or mental ailments. Its primary purpose is to assist such individuals in tending to their self-care needs on a regular basis. This benefit, however, does not extend towards mobility requirements. It is noteworthy to mention that carer aid is not a prerequisite for claiming Attendance Allowance.

Eligibility for Claiming Attendance Allowance

Potential claimants with mental health conditions, learning difficulties or sensory impairments like deafness or vision loss should consider applying for the Attendance Allowance if they require help or supervision persistently throughout the course of the day, or at specific times during the night.

Attendance Allowance Payout

The Attendance Allowance, paid either at a lower rate of £72.65 or a higher rate of £108.55 per week, aggregates to either £290.60 or £434.20 over each pay period, respectively. Beneficiaries can utilise this money as they see fit to sustain their independence and prolong their in-home stay.

Irrespective of the individual having personal savings or other forms of income, they remain eligible for claiming Attendance Allowance, as it is not means-tested. This benefit is exempted from tax stipulations and the Benefit Cap does not apply to it either, thus no financial drawbacks exist with regards to other benefits received by the claimant.

Claiming Attendance Allowance

In order to claim Attendance Allowance, the claimant must complete a comprehensive claim form. Although this process may seem daunting, assistance is readily available from the closest Citizens Advice branch.

If the claimant would rather complete the form themselves, a detailed guide on how to do so is available at the Citizens Advice portal here. The official GOV.UK website also provides further information regarding form retrieval via mail or telephone here.

Limitations to claiming Attendance Allowance

It is crucial to remember that the claimant will not be eligible for the Attendance Allowance if they already receive PIP or Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for their caregiving needs. Should the Attendance Allowance claimant apply while already receiving DLA, the DWP would typically reassess their DLA award.

To explore more about Attendance Allowance, please visit the official GOV.UK webpage on this subject here.