This means you can get up to £5,740.80 a year, the equivalent of £478.40 a month. The benefit is intended to assist people with either a disability, a chronic illnesses, or mental or physical health issues.

Many 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 live with a disability or illness and require assistance or supervision throughout the day or at times during the night – even if you are not currently receiving that help – you may want to consider 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 may also want to apply if you struggle with personal tasks, for example, if they take you a long time, cause you pain, or if you need physical support, like a chair to lean on. Attendance Allowance is not just for people with a physical disability or illness.

You could also claim if you need help or supervision throughout the day or night and have a mental health condition, learning difficulties, or a sensory condition, such as if you are deaf or visually impaired. Attendance Allowance is not 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 will not have money deducted from any other benefits. It will not impact your state pension entitlement and you can even claim it if you are still employed and earning money in this way.

You may also be able to get extra Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction if you claim Attendance Allowance. To check this, you can call the helpline or office that deals with whichever of these benefits you claim.