Pensioners living with a common condition may be able to claim extra cash
14:33, 24 Apr 2026Updated 14:34, 24 Apr 2026
Attendance Allowance is a non-means-tested benefit is paid to people over state pension age(Image: Getty Images)
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has outlined 50 health conditions that may entitle you to hundreds of pounds a month in Attendance Allowance.
The non-means-tested benefit is paid to people over state pension age who require extra support with personal care due to an illness or disability.
The benefit is intended to help cover the costs associated with the support you need, whether or not you are currently receiving that help.
It is a non-contributory benefit paid to elderly people with a disability or health condition severe enough that might need someone to help look after them. But you do not have to have someone caring for you in order to claim it.
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You may be eligible for Attendance Allowance if you meet the following criteria:
You have reached the State Pension age.You have a physical or mental disability (or health condition) that is severe enough to require frequent help or supervision with personal care.You have required this assistance for at least six months.
Because the benefit is not means-tested, your savings and income do not affect your entitlement.
As of April 2026, the rates for Attendance Allowance have increased by 3.8% in line with the consumer price index, and payments are divided into two weekly rates based on the level of care required.
The higher rate is now £114.60 per week – or around £458 a month – and is intended for those who need help or supervision during both the day and night, or those nearing the end of life. The lower rate is £76.70 per week.
There were 1,836,605 cases of entitlement to Attendance Allowance across the country as of August 2025 – the latest data available and released by the DWP.
Below is the full list of the 50 health conditions that qualified claimants for Attendance Allowance payments. The number of cases with entitlement for each condition is also listed, based on the main disabling condition.
Main Disabling Conditions:Arthritis – 532,146Spondylosis – 21,780Back Pain (Other / Precise Diagnosis not Specified) – 82,201Disease Of The Muscles, Bones or Joints – 95,272Trauma to Limbs – 22,788Visual Disorders and Diseases – 53,513Hearing Disorders – 10,240Heart Disease – 135,267Respiratory Disorders and Diseases – 112,858Asthma – 7,361Cystic Fibrosis – 114Cerebrovascular Disease – 79,565Peripheral vascular Disease – 7,882Epilepsy – 3,752Neurological Diseases – 40,303Multiple Sclerosis – 3,668Parkinsons Disease – 48,983Motor Neurone Disease – 784Chronic Pain Syndromes – 6,632Diabetes Mellitus – 21,855Metabolic Disease – 2,174Traumatic Paraplegia/Tetraplegia – 579Major Trauma Other than Traumatic Paraplegia/Tetraplegia – 2,252Learning Difficulties – 1,575Psychosis – 16,074Psychoneurosis – 12,832Personality Disorder – 208Dementia – 210,981Behavioral Disorder – 873Alcohol and Drug Abuse – 2,228Hyperkinetic Syndrome – 40Renal Disorders – 23,332Inflammatory Bowel Disease – 2,614Bowel and Stomach Disease – 7,716Blood Disorders – 1,539Haemophilia – 125Multi System Disorders – 9,115Multiple Allergy Syndrome – 89Skin Disease – 3,539Malignant Disease – 64,316Haemodialysis – 326Frailty – 2,513AIDS – 126Infectious diseases: Viral disease (Coronavirus covid-19) – 771Infectious diseases: Viral disease (precise diagnosis not specified) – 48Infectious diseases: Bacterial disease (Tuberculosis) – 119Infectious diseases: Bacterial disease (precise diagnosis not specified) – 46Infectious diseases (other / precise diagnosis not specified) – 144Cognitive disorder (other / precise diagnosis not specified) – 24,882Terminally Ill – 48,323Unknown – 110,144Total – 1,836,605