The money aims to help pensioners live independently for longer.
State pension age Brits with back pain could claim £441 extra per month (Image: Getty)
State pension age Brits with arthritis may be eligible to claim an extra £441.60 per month through Attendance Allowance. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefit aims to help pensioners live independently for longer, if the health condition is so severe that it requires assistance with daily tasks.
While claims are considered on a case-by-case basis, DWP data revealed arthritis was the most common condition among claimants of Attendance Allowance, with 483,376 receiving support across the UK in August 2024, reports the Manchester Evening News. With the NHS stating that more than 10 million people have arthritis or similar conditions that affect the joints across the UK, many pensioners may be missing out on the payments.
Arthritis UK notes that arthritis back pain is most commonly felt in the lower back, and osteoarthritis could be one of the many arthritic conditions that cause this.
Osteoarthritis is the most common type in the UK, affecting nearly 9 million people, and it most often develops in adults who are in their mid-40s or older, especially women, or people with a family history of the condition.
To apply for the Attendance Allowance, claimants will need to provide proof, including details of the disability or health condition, and the name of their GP surgery or medical centre.
They will also need to demonstrate that the condition has required them to need assistance with daily tasks for at least six months.
Depending on the level of care needed, the Government will pay eligible retirees either £73.90 or £110.40 per week. The lower rate of pay will be given to pensioners who need frequent help or constant supervision during the day, or supervision at night.
The higher rate is paid to retirees who need help throughout the day and night, or to those who a medical professional said are nearing the end of life.
Eligible state pensioners may also be able to claim additional support, such as Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or a reduction in their council tax, and it won’t impact the State Pension.
Arthritis is not the only health condition that makes pensioners eligible for Attendance Allowance, with some 48 conditions and disabilities listed in claimant data in August 2024.
